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BISHOP CHAiSE^S DUFENCB 



AGAINST 



TUB SJL^JVnJERU^ 



OF THE 



REV. G. M. WEST, 



On the 23d of December, 1 830, the Rev. Dr. Milnor, of New York, 
wrote a letter of friendship to me, from which the following are extracts: 

"New York, December 23d, 1830. 
^^Right Reverend and Dear Sirs 

"I have great cause to censare myself for having so long delayed 
what I have had in view ever since xtiy arrival, and for the neglect of which 
I stand justly rebuked ny your obliging favor of the 2d inst. But I found 
here, to my utter astonishment, a state of things in reference to the con- 
troversy between yourself and Mr West, which it required more time for 
me to thoroughly understand, than I found practicable to bestow upon it, 
in the midst of the multiplied pressing duties, which occupied me imme- 
diately on my return. And I ti id now that it was well that I did postpone 
writing to you for a season, because I hav<3, in the mean time, been able to 
get abundantly more information, as to Mr West's doi' gsand designs, thaa 
I at first possessed: and perhaps from what I now write- you will be able 
better to determine how to contradict his efforts; which I am persuaded 
will hereafter be as sedulously directed to the demolition of Kenyon Col- 
lege, as ever they were to the promotion of its interests. He is a most 
artful man, and possesses the faculty of insinuating himself into the good 
opinion of those with whom he converses to an extent at which I am much 
surprised. I fear he has already gre.itly injured you in the estimation of 
many in this city. As to the matter of the Consecration, your explanation 
accords exactly with my anticipations ; and I can scarcely exercise so much 
charity as to believe that the man, on whoni you pronounced your scrip- 
tural and appropriate blessing, could have been so ignorant as thus to 
mistake its import: and yet I am sorry to say, he has been successful in 
making niany laymen and at least one Clergyman, here, believe, that you 
actually did so useless, inconsiderate ijnd uncnnouical an act, as to convey 
to him the spiritual authority of a Bishop. With respect to the alledged. 



2 

document, by which you are said to have appointed him an Assistant Bishops 
or to have given him assurances of your assistance in obtaining the office; 
I am happy to say, that it will furnish no ground for a charge of forgery 
against its holder; as it turns out to be nothing more than the harmless^ 
document by which you appointed him your Chaplain. At least, I can 
discover no other instrument referred to by his friends, but this, to support 
his unfounded assertion. 1 think it, upon the whole, a fortunate circum- 
stance in regard to the development of Mr West's character and views» 
that he has made these two allegations: for of what is not that man capa- 
ble, who can so misrepresent your parting interview, as to convert an ex- 
pression of pious feeling and personal attachment into a consecration, and a 
certificate of his appointment to the cemparatively insignificant office of a 
Chaplain, into an unauthorized nomination to the office of an Assistant 
Bishop ? I feel confident, that where these two points are generally under- 
stood, his best friends, if they are honest men, can only shield him from 
the charge of falsehood and misrepresentation, by pleading his gross igno= 
ranee of the institutions of our Church. But there are other matters of 
more grave concern, to which I think your most serious attention should 
be forthwith directed. Whatever may be thought of his absurd claims to 
the office of a Bishop, which I do not believe he or his friends will much 
longer involve themselves in the nonsense of asserting; yet your numerous 
and warmly attached friends in England and in the United States, who are 
contributors to your great object, will expect that Mr West's strong as- 
severations in regard to mismanagement ^ misapplication, S^c. which he has 
supported so plausibly as to be believed by several of the subscribers to the 
professorship which bears my name, should be rebutted by a most candid 
and well authenticated statement of actual facts. Rumors are afloat, 
throughout this city, originating with Mr West and his adherents, that mo- 
neys contributed for one object, have been applied to another; that there 
has been excessive prodigality of expenditure ; that accounts have been 
very irregularly kept; that none know, in fact, the actual state of the 
finances of the College but yourself; ^nd that, from your unacquaintance 
with accounts, or the multiplicity of your engagements, or carelessness in 
your pecuniary concerns, or, (as some are unkind enough to insinuate,) with 
a view t ' private emolument, the benevolence of the public is likely to 
be of little advantage to religion and learning in Ohio. You will not 
doubt, that these things are stated by me, not as having impressed my mind, 
as I know they have the minds of others, with a belief of their truth: but 
as furnishing very cogent arguments for early and lucid explanation of the 
whole progress of the work under your care; so as to disabuse the public 
mind, and show the falsehood of the statements which your enemies have 
made on these and other points of a similar kind. It is true, you have al- 
ready a vindication of your character from such charges in the report of 
the committee, declaring their satisfaction with your doings, and importu- 
ning your continuance of your agency; but even this is converted into an 
engine of assault: for it is openly alledged here, that some of those who 
concurred in it, only did so, because the confusion and complication of the 
pecuniary concerns of the College were such, that no one could be found 
who would lai'e been willirir totake cbar'jf' of them in such a state. 
"ifi ibis part of the business I feel greatly interested, ag having the pri- 



viiege of being your personal friend, as being anxious for the prosperi'ty 
of the noble undertaking in which you are engaged, and as its right un- 
derstanding is connected with the completion of the Milnor Professorship; 
two at least of whose founders, and I know not but more, Mr West has, in 
my absence, succeeded in alienating from their former regard towards 



you." 



Rev, and very dear Dr, Milnor: 

I most heartily thank you for your friendly communication of Des, 
23d, 1830; and shall endeavor to profit by your advice. I was aware 
that Mr West was trying to do me all possible injury; but did not appre- 
hend, till 1 received your letter, that he had succeeded in his design tr> so 
great an extent. I had almost concluded to remain silent; and trusting to 
the mercy of Providence in the consciousness of mine own integrity, and 
the facility with which evidence of the same might be obtained, on the 
sHghtest examination, let this person do his worst. But your statement 
of the effect of his slanders in your city, has altered my determination. 
Painful as it is to be under the necessity of exposing him, and thus mani- 
festing to the world how we all have been imposed on by him; and dis- 
tressing as it is, amidst the manifold cares, which press me down, to turn 
aside for the purpose of engaging in a work of self defence; yet, if duty 
calls, — if the honor, safety and welfare, of the Church of Christ, and the 
prosperity of our loved Institution of Kenyon College require it — I see 
no alternative: 1 must obey; and defend myself against the "slanderous 
rumors originating with G. M. West." And may God enable me sincerely 
and heartily to forgive and pray for him, while for the sake of the Church 
of Christ, I try to do my duty. 

It is necessary before we listen to a witness, and feel the weight of his 
testimony on our minds, that we be acquainted with his character. Would 
that zoe had known Mr West's before we had admitted him to orders! 
Would that the Bishop of Nova Scotia had, at an earlier date, done me the 
favor of making me acquainted with his character in St. John's! Would 
that the Rev. Dr. Wainwright had thought proper to communicate the 
information mentioned in the foUawing letter recently sent me by Bishop 
f nglis : 

"Halifax, December 1, 1830. 
■^Right Reverend Sir: 

"Your letter of the 23d of October, did not reach me until a few days 
ago; as I had returned from New Brunswick some time before it arrived 
there. 

"In a case involving the interests of the Church of Christ, so dear as I 
trust it is to both of us, it would afford me pleasure, as it would be my duty, 
to supply the information you desire; but I have never seen the newsna- 
pers to which j'ou allude, and therefore have sent a copy of your letter to 
the Rev. Dr. Gray, Rector of St. John, N. B., with a request tliat he will 
endeavor to send you the information you desire, and forward the papers 
to me. 



"You are probably aware that Mr West was some time in New Brunswick, 
officiating for a portion oi the Methodists there, who had separated from 
the rest, on account of their predilection for a preacher who was accused of 
intemperance; but they distinguished themselves as CAwc/i Methodists. 
The division, however, made it necessary to procure a new building for 
their worship, and excited suiBcient zeal for the commencement of the 
work. I>ifficulties occurred to delay the completion ; but Mr West had 
the management, and procured a title to the site in his own name, which was 
contrary to the intention of the parties concerned. He made an offer of 
this biiilrliijg, which he had no right or authority to dispose of, when en- 
cumi'cred with debt, to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel; but 
stipulated for Ordination and employment in their service, in a way that 
would at least have given an appearance of simony to the engagement; 
and, therefore, the Society refused to have any part in the matter. I heard 
reports in New Brunswick, how true 1 know not, that he had moneys, sub- 
scribed for the buildiiig, which be took away with him. 

"In 1 828, I was in Quebec, and there was written to and visited by a 
person, who wished me to ppply for the exercise of your influence to obtain 
from Mr West the payment of moneys of which, as he stated, Mr West had 
defrauded him and others in Quebec ; a portion was due for his board and 
lodging, and some consisted of subscriptions for a meeting house which had 
br^en paid into his hands. I ascertained the character of the complainant 
to be respectable, and his embarrassment severe in consequence of Mr 
West's conduct. I heard at the time that Mr West had obtained your 
conlidence, and doubted whether you would have been ready to receive 
inteiUgeoce so much to his discredit; but recollecting how the conduct of 
this person might affect the character of the Church, and what my own 
wishes and expectations from a brother, would be, in such a case, I could 
not satisfy myself to leave New York in October, 1828, until I had put into 
the hands of Dr. Wainright a statement of these matters, leaving it to hig 
discretion to communicate it to you, or withhold it, as he should judge best. 

"Some of our mutual friends in England seemed so unwilling to believe 
ar y thing to Mr West's disparagement, that I apprehended you would be 
eciuaily averse from entertaining it, and especially as those friends had 
formed their opinion of Mr West from your testimony: I think this was 
stated with candor to Dr. Wainwright. Having heard nothing upon the 
subject, T concluded that Dr. Wainwright thought it best to abstain from, 
troubling you on the subject. 

"I cannot but offer up my fervent gratitude to God, for the accounts 
which reach us of the progress of our pure and holy branch of the Church of 
Christ, in the rapidly increasing country around you; and earnestly pray 
that his divine blessing may crown with success the labors of all his faith- 
ful servants in this great work. 

"I beg to be Considered as your affectionate Brother, 

"JOHN, NOVA SCOTIA.-' 

Now, Dear Sir, lest the brief compass of a single tetter should leave any 
part of the evidence, showing this man's character, deficient, pray turn youc 
eyes to the Appendix No, 1, being cxtraclR from a St, John's paper. Nova 
Scotia, entitled, 



"British Colonist, and New Brunswick Commercial Reporter, June 4tij, 
1830." 

If yo'j inquire how these papers came in my possession? I answer, they 
came unasked^ unsought, just at the time I most wanted them, to defend 
myself against the attacks of the man whose character cuts such a sad 
figure on their pages. A person going through the country last Octoher^ 
left them with a friend in Columbus to be forwarded to me. A\ ith the 
"Colonist," also came two or three numbers of "St. John's City Gazette," 
containing a part of a review of Mr iMarriott's Pampliiet: but as this was 
incomplete,! thou;iht proper to write to the Bishop of Nova Scotia for the 
whole. It is to this circumstance that the Bishop alludes, where he says, 
"1 have not seen the papers." The history of Mr West in reference to 
myself is as follows: 

He came to me in the year 1827, recommended, (I fear on too short an 
acquaintance with his real character,) by my best friends in England; and 
it was to the warmth of my grateful remembrance of them, that Mr West 
owed his success with me in obtaining Holy Orders. 

The want of funds, ai.d settlers of our College Lands, were much talked 
of: and as Mr West professed to have great influence in obtaining them; 
who should be so likely to do us service in England and Ireland as he? Ac- 
cordingly, it was agreed that he should return thither and do his best: and 
here I mast say, that I felt deeply the importance of the charge with which 
he was about to he intrusted. I had lately been in that country myself, 
and had witnessed how groundless were all expectations ' f success with- 
out a blessing from on High. As God had begun the work, through a sim- 
ple and faithful reliance on his power, I felt it my duty to go on with it; not 
trusting in an arm of flesh, hut rclyiug solely on His Almighty goodness. 
Accordingly, believing Mr West..to be a good and pious man, w-. 11 acquaint- 
ed with scriptural examples, and the customs of christians in primitive 
days, and with the particular usages of the Church into which he had re- 
cently been admitted, I invited him to the dut)^ of prayer: and at the 
close, I implored, I hope sincerely, a blessing on him, and on his moht im- 
portant undertaking. Little did I think, at that time, what was passing 
in this man's head. How would it have shocked my feelings and palsied 
my tongue, to have been acquainted with his thoughts — to have foreseen 
what has since come to pass — that this man was then meditating schemes of 
ambition; and that to acccomplish them he would leap the barriers of truth; 
and in grasping at the mitre, sacrifice the best interests of the College. 

The words which I then pronounced were these; which I always use on 
similar occasions, and none other, viz: "The Lord bless thee and keep thee. 
"The Lord mercifully look upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The 
"Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon thee; and give thee peace, 
"both now and evermore: Amen." 

Who but a man mad with ambition could, from such words as these, (how- 
ever they might be connected with the '■^Collegintc Diplomat in the arts and 
sciences which we had then given him, or with a. certificate that I afterwards 
gave him, of his being considered my Chaplain,) distil the idea that I con 
veyed to him thereby the spiritual anthwity of a Bishop! 

Mr West went directly to England, and remained there and in Ireland, 
his native country, till last summer. During this period, things transpired 



which somewhat displeased me ; yet thinking that he was under the imnie* 
diate oversight of my judicious friends, I hoped always <br the best. Eve- 
ry little while, something would reach me manifesting the extreme of vani- 
ty ; and sometimes I Witnessed in his communications, statements which 
could hardly be reconciled with truthi Of all these things, I disapproved. 
Yet inasmuch as he retained the confidence of the excellent persons who 
first recommended him, I was in hopes that the inflations of his mind would, 
in the course of time, and by the advice of his friends, disappear. Conse- 
quently, when urged to resume my communications with him (which i had 
thought proper, for along period, to discontinue,) I did it with the feehngs 
of a parent. I observed to Mr Marriott, to whom I wrote concerning Mr 
West, that if he thought proper, Mr West should return to Ohio; and that 
if Mr West would perform the work of a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, 
be should share in the means of subsistence which we had, as if he were 
my own son. And here it ought not to be disguised, that much of the kind 
sentiments burning in my breast was kindled at the fire of friendship, 
which has never ceased to warm my heart towards Lord Kenyon and G. 
W. Marriott. They wished Mr West to return; and though I dreaded many 
things, resulting from his inordinate vanity, yet I hoped all things would 
result in good. If he were at heart a real friend to refigion, and anxious, 
as he often and warmly professed, to promote her sacred cause in Ohio, he 
could find an ample field of labor as a missionary in our new settlements; 
an employment not calculated to afford the tempting adulation, which the 
celebrity of "the Ohio cause'''' in England had so often called forth from 
crowded city congregations. And who could tell, but the love of souls, 
though mixed with much alloy, was still the reigning motive of his mind I 
How often have I wished that talents like his, had been sanctified to God's 
service: and with what fervency have I prayed that Mr West might yet 
exemplify this wish, by laying aside his strong propensity for popular 
applause, and by seeking only the smiles of his Heavenly Father. But in 
this I soon found myself sadly disappointed. Mr West at last came to OSiio. 
•And although, in great sincerity, I received him with open arms, yet I soon 
found that all my fears were more than realized. My hopes of his being a 
missionary in our new settlements were soon at an end. For, although in 
our conversing of it, there was a term found better suited to his reigning 
passion — that of "an Arch Deacon''' — yet even that was by far beneath his 
lofty aim! Of this I was soon made sensible, though to my unspeakable as^ 
tonishment. A favorable moment was chosen, when the long cherished 
thought broke forth; and he told me plainly, that he expected to be my 
SUCCESSOR, and that he had understood me' to have signified the same.' He was 
told immediately, that the thought of his being such, had never before, to 
my remembrance, entered my mind; and that if it had, it would have been 
useless; fori had no power to make my successor. I then asked him how 
he came to entertain such an expectation. He then alluded to the time of 
our parting, when he was on the eve of setting off for Europe. Shocked 
at such a gross misapprehension of the obvious meaning of the ordinary 
words and usages of the Church, I saw but too clearly that all my former 
fears, of Mr West's fatal passion, were about to be realized. He had com- 
mitted, as it appeared, a. self immolating act at the shrine of Vanity, which 
the enemy of souls had erected in his heart. He had attempted "to climb 



up some other way" than that pointed out by the Constitution and Canons 
of the Church 5 aud now by bold assertions, founded only on the fictions of 
his own brai ., would faininlisl me in the train of causes producing so ne- 
farious a deed. To attempt to conceal this matter, would be to own the 
truth of his assertions, and participate in its criminality. To protest a- 
gainst it, therefore, both as an illegal act and ag a violation of the truth, in 
the statement of what took place between us, was my duty. But how 
could this be done? Evidently, both to him and the Diocese, I felt I had no 
hor<tility against Mr West. On the contrary, I pitied him as one Avho had 
fallen a prey to the most subtle and fatal passion of our depraved nature; 
and while I was conscious that it was my duty not to allow myself to be 
drawn into the snnre, I felt I had a duty to perform of the most painful na- 
ture ; that of a father warning an erring child of the danger of his ways, 
and exhorting him to repentance. Accordingly, I sought an interview with 
him, and tried to do my duty. The subject of my admonitory advice was 
the evidence and fatal consequences of his vanity. Little did I then 
think how useless my task was: that the man whom I was addressing was a- 
mong the last who would profit by it. After remaining with me about a 
week, !VIr West went to New York-, and I to my arduous duties. 

As the time of the Convention drew nigh, I wrote my address required 
by the Canon, and in it inserted the fact, in as mild terms as possible, of 
Mr West's having made pretensions to the Episcopate, and o( my own disa- 
vowal of all participation in his arrogance. 

At the time of the delivery of this address, as required by Canon, Mr 
West, as I had reason to expect from my having heard of his return from 
New York, was present. When it was finished, he immediately rose, and 
desired the vote might be taken of the audience giving their consent that 
he should answer the address. He looked round for a "second to his mo- 
tion," and called for it more than once; but none being given, he demanded 
a copy of the address. 1 then told him that if he would have a little pa- 
tience, he should soon see a printed copy. He then insisted on having one 
immediately. Thi- also was agreed to. 

When the Convention was opened, which event took place almost imme^ 
diately, a friend at my instance, brought in a resolution that a committee 
be appointed to take into consideration so much of the Bishop's address 
as related to Mr West. The usual nomination of this committee was de- 
clined by the chair; and the Convention chose the following persons, viz: 
Rev. Dr. Aydelott, Rev. 1. Morse, Bezaleel Wells, Esq. Judge Bailhache 
and Piatt Benedict, Esq. 

This committee retired with Mr West, heard him patiently, and allowed 
him his desire of making a public speech in favor of himself; which he of 
course did by abusing me. 

And what was my crime, for which I was thus to be attacked and abused, 
by a man who was sent to preach the gospel of peace amongst us? May I 
be permitted to answer f >< myself? Simply, because that, in the fear of 
the Lord, and in the discharge of my duty, I had thought proper to make 
that public, which, if I had concealed, I should forever have deemed myself 
criminal: and as it would have implied a concurrence in his views, and a 
violation of my oath, woi^ld have involved me in great difficultyjand ruined 
the church in Ohio, 



There are those who think, that in order to avoid ^^ difficulty ^'' and get on 
smoothly, I oughlto hdve "reported this thing to the standing committee," 
who, if they thought proper, would have taken notice of the business. I 
answer, I thought otherwise. His offence involved my moral conduct 
and sense of propriety, for which / was answerable to the Diocese as sucK 
And had all taken my communication in the same feelings with which 
1 gave it, perhaps the trouble Mr West has given us, would have been 
avoided. 

To make this plain, let us have recourse to a few allusions: Mr West said 
in his Speech^ that he had a right to look towards, and "desire, the Episco? 
pate;" and quoted the words of the Apostle — "He that desireth the office 
of a Bishop, desireth a good thing." But it should be remembered, there 
is a lawful and an unlawful desire. The desire of the ofhce of a Bishop, 
and that of a chaste partner for Ufe, are aslowed by the laws of God. But 
the laws of God, it should be remembered, mark with great precision the 
BOUNDARIES o^ sanctified desire. And so strictly has the Church, and a haU 
lowed sense of propriety among her intelligent members, ^uarrferf these 
boundaries^ that he who attempts to trangress them is instantly exposed. 

The chaste matron who heareth the language of dehlemefit from the 
base seducer, is bound in duty to her lord, and to her children, to revealj 
and not conceal him for a moment in her dwelling. 

Instead of denying the matter stated in the address, Mr West allowed it 
all, and more: and boldly justified the pretensions he had made, of being 
not only a claimant of the Episcopate, contrary to the constitution of the 
Church, but as having the spiritual authority of a Bishop, however illegally^ 
yet actually conferred upon him. "What," said he, "could the Bishop mean 
by a THIRD laying On of hands, if it were not to exemplify in me, the three 
orders of the ministry: first, a Deacon; 2d, a Priest; and, thirdly, a Bi- 
shop?" If he thus concurred with the statements 1 had made, for what 
then was he displeased? The matter of the contention, according to the 
tenor of his speech, was not to make the world believe he had not, as \ 
affirmed, illegally aspired unto the Episcopate; not to deny that to be a 
Bishop, /gs aut nefas^ had been his ruling motive^ in all his proceedings; not 
to deny that iovthishe. had come over to America; for this be had paid his 
attentions to me, and obtained the orders of Priest and Deacon; that for 
the accomplishment of this end, he had thought my words and prayers 
were altered: no, this was not denied; hni owned and justified. But he 
contended that I was criminally to blame; that I did not understand and ap- 
prove all his designs and motives; that, some how, I was so stupid as not to 
comprehend the deeply hidden meaning there must have, as he thought, 
been in the common form of blessing in the prayer book,* which I used, and 
in the manner of my using it. I did not see, as he saw, the glitterings of 
that ideal mitre, which was so full in his view of every turn he took in the 
path of worldly honor which, unknown to me, he Wr^fi pursuing. 

In one word, 1 had not even thought of that whicli had been the subject 
of his mighty dream and daily wish; that George Jllonigomery West was^ some 
how or other^ to be made^ or had been m.ade, a Bishop ! Now what are we to 
think of Mr West, and the weight of his testimony? 



' The poor man thought I used an extemporaneous prayer- 



Bishop Meade, of Virginia, has given me, lately, a solution of tWs diffi=. 
culty in the following words: "In charity, 1 do sincerely nope that ae is not 
in possession of his right mind: such an ii'timation I have heard soiue time 
since, and hope it may be true." The son of Bishop Meade was present 
when Mr West made the speech alluded to. But to proceed: the commit- 
tee of the Convention, after this speech of Mr West, further examined him 
on this point, and then reported on the same to the Convention as follows: 
"2d. With regard to the second point — the succession to tiie Episcopal 
Chair of this Diocese — ^your committee have no doubt but that an entirely 
erroneous impression existed in the mind of Mr West. No sufficient evi- 
dence has been submitted to the committee, that the Right Rev. Bishop 
Chase ever held out to Mr West, the hope of succeeding him in his Episco- 
pal office. And your committee are pained to add, that, between the de- 
fence publicly delivered before the committee, by Mr West, and his an- 
swers to them in private, upon this point, there was a manifest inconsisten- 
cy. Your committee understood Mr West to say, on the first occasion, part- 
ly from a written declaration, and partly extemporaneously, that trie Biswop 
had privately invested him with the spiritual character of a Bishop; or at 
least he promised to leave on record, in case of his (the Bishop's) decease, 
a recommendation of him (Mr West) as his successor. Afterwards, when 
Mr West was asked by the committee, 'Will you give your written statement 
concerning the Episcopacy to the committee?' he declined a compliaace, 
after repeated and earnest solicitations. And when the inquiry was made 
of him by the committee, 'How could you suppose Bishop Chase intended 
to exert his influence to make you nis successor ?' Mr West replied: 'My 
impression is, that the Bishop said he would recommend me.' Your com- 
mittee doubt not that such an impression existed on the mind of Mr West; 
but it appears to them that there is material ditference between the posi« 
tive assertion, that Bishop Chase had invested him with the spiritual power 
of a Bishop, or would leave on record a recommendation of him to the 
Episcopal office, and the above reply, 'my impression is, the Bishop saii? he 
would recommend me.^ All which is respectfully submitted, 

B. P. AYDELOTT, 
INTREPID MORSE, 
BEZALEEL WELLS, 
PLATT BENEDICT, 
JOHN BAILHACHE,'» 

While these things were transpiring, and at all intervals since his retura 
from New York, Mr West was not idle. He reported that he had come 
ovit from New York, as he had come from England, with authority to call 
Bishop Chase to an account; and invited all who had any complaints to lay 
them before him. He took great pains, if he heard of a disatFected person, 
to see him; though to accomplish his object he had to ride some miles. 
What success he met with, I do net exactly know; but have heard from 
some quarters that he was not altogether disappointed. 

In the management of a great concern in a country so newly settled by 
persons of all descriptions, both of character, disposition and grade of civi- 
lized education in life, it were morally impossible, but that many disaffect- 
'jd persons should be found. Ignorance of the very grouads and principles 

B 



io 

©f the College, prevailed in its commencement to such an extent, as to 
turn the fate of candidates in the election of Representatives to the civil 
government. It was currently believed, that Kenyon College was to be at 
British Fort, that would overawe the liberties of the country. He that 
was friendly to its interests must be, as they thought, an enemy to the 
American people. Happily for the country, as well as for the CollegCj 
hostility of this and all other descriptions, was beginning to diminish. The 
good effects of Sunday Schools,* gratuitously established and taught by 
the pious zeal and disinferested benevolence of the students, in all direc- 
tions, to the extent of many miles round about, and through the newly set- 
tled and woody country; an unfeigned desire manifested by the Clergy 
and officers attached to the Institution, to promote! temperance and 
morality in the community, and to effect the true conversion of the souls 
of men from sin to holiness; and withal the evident benefit, of which the 
establishment of the College had proved itself, to the industrious people 
round about, by affording them a reasonable reward for their labor and 
produce; had, in a great degree, succeeded in conciliating the affections 
of a vast majority of the community, and had well nigh silenced the voice 
of envy and malice. 

But the reports which Mr West brought with him from New York, of 
the suspicions entertained there, as he said, bi) the Trustees of the Milnor Pro- 
fessorship funds, of the conduct of Bishop Chase, in his official character, 
were the theme of his discourse; and if they had been as extensively be- 
lieved, as they were sedulously and maliciously circulated by the '''•Bishop^s 
Chaplain^'* the consequences would have been ruinous indeed. 

I was quite ignorant of the extent of his endeavors to injure me ; and, 
perhaps, it was well that 1 was; otherwise, I know not that I should have 
treated him with the civility which ray station as President of the Board 
required of me, as will be shown presently. 

God in mercy spared me till the temptation was over; I bless his name 
for *he favor, and proceed. 

Previously to going another step with Mr West, as to his appearance be- 
fore tae Board of Trustees, I cannot but indulge you with a sight of the 
items of inquisition, which, he said, were furnished him by certain gentle- 
men in New York, as their "joint resolutions fX and as the ground work of 
his instructions to proceed in the investigation of my conduct. 

* When the work of making preparations to erect the College on Gambler Hill com- 
menced, a Sunday School was scarcely heard of for many miles around. The first lit- 
tle gathering o^ Xhe children in the ivoods, for this purpose, was under the trees just in 
front of where the College now stands. It was here we held Divine Service duringf 
the whole summer of 1826, and taught the children both before and between morning 
and evening prayer. Look now on this work, and note the increase. 

The numberof Sunday Schools at present, conducted by the Students of 

the College, is 14 

Students, teachers of the above, 40 

Scholars, 700 

f No spirituous liquors have ever been allowed, either among the hands or student?, 
from the first setting our foot on the College premises to the present moment. In this 
ffespect, the whole Institution is a Temptrance Society; and in point of time, takes the 
lead of ftll ethers, except one in Salem, Massachusetts, in the United States, 

4 These hs handed about, as I am since told, privately. 



11 

A copy of these I have obtained, from a source you will learn Itl the se<= 
ijuel: they are as follow. But before producing them on the page of this 
letter, I must beg to be allowed a few preliminary observations. 

I do not object to investigation of my proceedings, or the motives which 
gave rise to them; but I protest against an ungentlemanly, unchristian and 
illegal mode of investigation : and the reasons for my protest, as applicable 
to the present case, may appear by the following statement: 

Our Institution is under the direction of Trustees, chosen trienniaily, by 
the Convention of the Diocese. These Trustees, for want of a better and 
more able person, appoint me their aoent; and every time they, meet, I give 
unto them an account of my stewardship: and after strict investigation, 
they approve, and publish their approval to the world, by entering their 
doings on the journals of the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 
of the Diocese of Ohio. 

These journals are sent to every part of the United States, and to friends 
abroad. — Now, supposing I had done wrong in any of my proceedings, the 
Trustees would know it; and base indeed would be their minds and hearts, 
if they did not, in all concerns o( which they have the control, make me 
answer for it. And if I refused to repair my error, the world would know 
it; the Courts of Justice would know it: and if it involved my moral cha- 
racter, the House of Bishops would know it — and from them we should 
have a righteous sentence. The Bishops individually and collectively are 
"Visitors" of the Institution. No constitutional article can be altered 
without their consent: and should any thing go wrong of a serious nature, 
it is, by an express article of the Constitution of the College, confirmed by 
legislative act of the civil government of Ohio, in their power, and their 
bounden duty to visit the institution, and make inquiry; and, if they see 
fit, to apply to a Court qf Law for a "wn"< of Injunction to stay proceedings.'^ 
All this is in print, as it was devised by me, as the first corner stone of our 
Institution. It was published in England, that this would be its first princi- 
ple: it was recognized as the condition of all donations: and when I re- 
turned to America, it was mentioned and inserted in our Constitution of the 
Seminary, and by the legislative establishment of that Constitution, becan>e 
the law of the land. 

Few things of the kind have obtained greater publicity than those which 
I have stated, concerning the manner of regularly administering the affairs 
of Kenyon College. And by them how visible is the path of duty to any 
person who, acting on christian principles, wishes to obtain satisfaction? 
Suppose that j^oM, Dear Doctor, had been doubtful as to the correct manage- 
ment of our affairs; what would you have done? You would have lool<ed 
over the journals, for the doings of the Trustees. You would have seen 
there no grounds of complaint. All things relative to the accounts and the 
management of affair-s, having met with the entire approbation of the Board 
of Trustees, you would have been satisfied. This would have been your set- 
tled conviction; unless the character and fidelity of the Trustees should, 
unhappily, have fallen under just suspicions: in such case you would inquire 
into the matter the 7-ight way. If you saw the Trustees were, by neglect 
or transgression, going counter to the requisitions and canons, or to the 
principles of moral right and honesty, you would have made the matter ;. 
known to the Visitors of ihe Institution, the Bishops of the Dioceses; who \ 



are rcc6gnizedl and established as such by the civil law; and if they savf 
that you had grounds of complaint, an investigation vs^ould take place. 
But. instejid of this, how was it? What was the course of proceedings in 
this case? 

A man who had been sent t6 Europe for subscriptions for Kenyon Col- 
lege, and from his having staid there Some years, must necessarily come 
back ignorant of all proceedings, and reasons of proceedings, in the Insti* 
tution: and now having made his appearance, if he had any right to inves- 
tigate, takes no pains to get the information necessary to judge; reads nO 
journals of the proceedings of Convention or Board of Trustees; asks for 
no inthrmation from the books of Receipts and Expenditures ^ examines none 
of the College buildings, nor rides o^er an acre of ground, nor examines a 
liiiJl, farm, barn, stables or fence, with ah horest view of witnessing the 
reasonableness, or unreasonableness of expenditures: but, blind to all 
others, grasps at one dazzling object, the mitre: forsaking modesty; forsa- 
king truth — he will be a Bishop! Disappointed in this, all his powers of 
adulation forsake him. From a sycophant, he beconies an enemy. He 
Sums his face to the eastward, saying, he would quit Ohio and go to Nova 
Scotia; and in passing through New York, he finds '•'•the friends of Bishop 
Chase^^ who in a moment of great excitement made by Mr West's very 
artful manner of exhibiting his printed documents, and getting up 
his subjects, give credence to all he says, and appoint him ;to be their 
inquisitor, with full power to return to Ohio, and call Bishop Chase to an 
account. 

Bui it may be asked by strangers, who were these gentlemen, froni 
whom Mr West said he was sent, to investigate the conduct of Bishop 
Chpce? 

They were persons, who, it was supposed, after the papers should have 
been duly exchanged^ would be legally constituted a committee of Trust for 
B. certain time^ of the funds subscribed for the maintenance of a Professor in 
Divinity in Kenyon College, and the Professorship, out of respect to your- 
self. Dear Doctor, was to be called the Milnor Professorship, according to 
the desire of Mr Arthur Tappan, who had made the first subscription of a 
thousand dollars. They had already been active in this benevolent bu- 
siness. My brother had communicated with them on the subject con- 
cerning the management of the whole affair of his subscription of 1000 dolr 
iars; I had desired Thomas Smith, Esq. of King George county, Virginia, 
and the Rochester subscribers of 1000 dollars each, to communicate with 
them; and we all felt grateful to them. But we never thought, that be- 
cause they, each of them, had subscribed, and got others to subscribe to the 
Milnor Professorship to the amount of nearly one half of the whole, that 
therefore, before the papers were interchanged, they should assume the 
power of appointing an Inquisitor General, unacquainted with our 
affairs, and disappointed in his calculations and views, to investigate all 
the matters and things, and accounts, proceedings, and motives, both 
civil and ecclesiastical, temporal and spiritual, of, and belonging to, 
Kenyon < "ollege and Bishop Chase; and withal to dictate to the Board of 
Trustees, what should and should not be done. How little did these wor- 
thy gentlemf^n seem to understand what is due to our feelings as christian 
brethren I and I here ask of you, Doctor Milnor, and of all who know the 



13 

felativfe duties of men, if it be not incumbent on mc to protest against such 
a mode of proceeding as unchristian and illegal? 

We now give you the items of inquisition in order. He had them with 
him when he made his speech, although he did not then make them public: 
I wish this may be observed. 

Here they are, and Mr West evidently the author of them alh 

"Satisfactory information is demanded,"* 

*'l. As to the act of the incorporation of the College; ^ 

,"'2. Minutes of the first meeting of the Corporation; f .,. . . , 

"3. Minutes f the proceedings by which the Theolo- t " 

gical Seminary wets established* j 

"4. Copies of the by-laws and regulations of the Col- V Answered by the 
lege^ Theological Seminary and act of incorpo- > Trustees, as in the 
ration* 5 ^"cquel. 

"5. Copy of any authority or power to Bishop Chase^ ^ In print, answer- 
to act<f as the attorney or agent of the body. ^ ^^ ^J the Trustees. 

*' J^o power ought to be vested, in any one or two, ^o go any farther than to 
act subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees; and if the Bishop 
now has pozoer to act without reference to the Trustees^ it ought to be re- 
voked immediately.^^ 

I answer: No power was ever vested in, or claimed by me, but such aB 
was, and is subject to the approval of the Trustees. All my acts and 
deeds, receipts and expenditures, have been regularly laid before tlie 
Trustees, at every annual meeting; and their approval has been unani- 
mously passed upon them, as may be seen by the yearly publications. 

If Mr West had inquired amongst the officers or secretaries of tlie Insti- 
tution, or of any person who kept a regular file of the journal of our Con- 
vention, he might have been informed of the truth of all these facts. Whe- 
ther Mr West ever did this, I cannot sav; so there was no need of revoking 
(and that "immediately !") any power which was never given nor exercised^ 
If the Trustees do not approve of my actions, they are not valid. 

Thus much for an answer to this article. Suppose I were to say a few 
'Vvords, as to its nature and origin? Did it flow from that charitable heart, 
which the religion of Jesus Christ inspires? or even from a fountain uncon- 
laminated with base suspicion? 

"6. Statement of receipts and expenditures of money, from the commence- 
ment , and through whose hands the funds have passed. 

•'7. ft is proper and expedient that all bills be audited by a committee, anot 
paid through one regular channel; and. the Treasurer is, no doubt, in 
equity and law, the only proper channel.''^ 



He boasts of hnviD* done this in hia pamphlet: of which more hereafter. 



m 



14 

Answer: The account of Receipts and Expenditures of money from 
the commencement, were recorded on the minutes of the Trustees, and pub- 
lished with the Journals, as above stated and reiterated. 

The funds collected by me in England were in the hands of Trustees in 
that country; and the medium of transmission necessarily requiring much 
tiiT»e, because of a. public character^ and the choice of a site for the College 
requiring long delays, unavoidably a considerable period intervened during 
which there zi^ere no funds ^ — -during which the heavy expenses of freight on 
Boolcs, and the freight and duties on an Organ, Printing Types, C ommu- 
nion Plate and other donations from England, were to be paid by me, and 
at my expense transported to Ohio. And even when we had fixed on Knox 
county for the location of oar Seminary, the whole had to be carried on by 
advances from my own private funds, except what I collected, from time to 
time, from the surrounding country ; and even these were small, and, but 
In a few iastances, were not paid till more than a year after subscription, 
as the books will show. » 

For a long period after the legal incorporation of our Board of Trustees, 
they had no money to speak of, at their command ; and no one would credit 
the Institution a dollar but on my security, and every article that I bought 
on credit was put to my personal debt. Who then would be a Treasurer? 
No one, if he had to answer the demands daily required, by the expenses 
of making a great establishment in the woods. Who would consent to ac- 
cept that office? The thing was tried and it failed. What, in such case, 
was to be done? — I must either fail to fulfil my engageme*its, made on 
account of the College, and stop all proceedings, or be Treasurer my- 
self. — Who that had proceeded thus far, supported only by the hand of 
a Merciful Providence, as I had been, would hesitate to make all the ad- 
vances in his power? My effects, therefore, were, of necessity, pledged 
and called into use, as they were wanted; and the same were disposed of, 
either used or sold, for the benefit of the College, as the Trustees and all my 
neighbours know full well. For what end ? To establish and support the credit 
of our loved Institution^ When this was effected, God gave me time to so- 
licit funds from other quarters ; and blessed be his name, caused m.e to find 
favor in the eyes of my countrymen, to obtain other means to go on. The 
office of my being Treasurer, therefore, was a Providential necessity. I 
was in advance to the College at all times; and should I, at any one period, 
have given up the Treasurer's duty into the hands of another, and of him 
required the balance in my favor, the 'operation of the whole establish- 
ment would have immediately ceased. To make this statement of whot I 
have done, and still am doing, for the College, was not my wish, but Mr 
West and his adherents have compelled me to do it. 

"8. Have any funds been received^ to be specially appropriated to the erection 
of a Church at Gambierf'' 

Yes: Lady Rosse gave for this purpose £lOO 00 

The Rev. G. M. West is said to have collected, while in 
England, (certainly Mr Marriot sent me for this purpose,) 
four hundred pounds sterling, 400 

Of this sum; I have refunded to Mr West fifty-seven 



15 

pounds twelve shillings, demanded by the said West, (ot 
certain expenses, and granted by the Trustees of the Col- 
lege previously to the arrival of Mr Marriott's letter, say- 
ing that he had advanced him for ^^all his expenses by sea 
and land^'' 57 12 



342 8 



Total, £442 8 



This, whenhrought into dollars, is f 1,964 ?5 

Take this sum froWi what lins been actually expended 
in erecting thus far the walls, and cutting the stone 
and preparing the lime and timber, &c. for Rosse 
Chapel, 3,019 96 

And there is a balance due the College account of 1,055 7 1 



N. B. Mr West had asserted that I had taken the "fonds received to be 
specially appropriated to the erection of a Church in Gambier," and ap- 
plied them to other purposes. The College books show to the contrary: 
which will you, sir, believe? The balance is due the College; and for this 
misapplication of funds (if it be such,) I should feel to blame, had the sum 
in question equalled what f am continually in advance to the College. As 
it is, have I not a right to do as I please with my own? 

*'9. Have any of the College lands been sold; or did the Bishop authorize 
any person to dispose of said lands on certain conditions: and has the 
Bishop's farm been pledged to Kenyan College ?" 

Answer: The Bishop's farm in Worthington, is mortgaged to Paul Beck. 
Esq. of Philadelphia, for two thousand dollars, as you may be certified, by 
inquiry of him. This money has gone to pay the College debts, and tho 
Bishop has no means to redeem his farm. 

As it respects the former part of this article, the sale of lands: it has al- 
ways been with the proviso, clearly understood, that the Trustees were to 
approve of whatever was done. 

Op this condition, seventeen lots and out lots in a projected village, on 
the north section, are bargained away, and paid for. If the Trustees do 
not approve of this transaction, the money will be returned to the pur- 
chasers, 

"10. Has the Bishop now the power to dispose of the College lands, or property 
belonging to the Institution, or of giving a mortgage on said property ?''^ 

Answer: Yes. The Trustees confided this power tome; but which I 
uever exercised, except as above, in the conditional sale of the lots. 

Last Convention, the Rev. B. B. Smith, then of Philadelphia, now of 
Lexington, Kentucky, 'i iving written to me, tbat ihere had been, of a sud« 
ilen, raised in New York, a violent objection against this instance of pat' 



16 

tine: trust in me; with great willingness, I seized the opportunity offered 
by the presence of the Trustees, and urged them to join the name of the 
Rev, William Sparrow, Milnor Professor of Divinity in this Institution, with 
me in this trust; which was accordingly donet 

''41, The propriety and absolute necessity of having Lord Kenyan, Lord 
Gambier, Lord Bexley and G. W. Marriott, Esq. duly elected; at least 
to be regularly and duly consulted.^^ 

Little, as I humbly conceive, will their Lordships thank Mr West for 
inserting their most respected names in such an article as this. How has 
vanity blinded this poor man's eyes, that for the sake of setting himself off 
as the intimate of great characters, he should do them the greatest possible 
displeasure; by thus offending their delicacy through the wounded ieelingg 
of their grateful friend ! 

^''IS. To whom do the Store, Tavern and Stage Coach belong f'^ 

Answer: To the Corporation of Kenyon College. 

I claim a right to nothing on the College premises; not even the bed 
ihat ray«elf and children sleep on. The only exceptions are my horse Cin- 
dnnatus, most faithful and useful fellow, as all the teamsters well knowj 
long in the gears, serving the College ; in consideration of the keeping a 
few sheep, partly the property of my dear niece, — all of which "Mr West 
and his adherents," may have for less than the price of the horse. 

Of this barter of services of the horse for the keeping of the sheep, I have 
constantly informed the Trustees, and I think they have never failed to as- 
sent to it. So that Mr West and "his adherents" need not be alarmed. 

*' 1 4. Would it not be a feasible plan to have the Students work on the lands, a 
certain portion of the day, or engage in some mechanical zoork, and have 
something similar to the self-supporting School?^'' 

I answer: A Horticultural Society is already instituted among the Stu- 
dents, and every facility aiforded to those who wish to earn, by their indus- 
try, the means of paying their own expenses. Whatever they voluntarily 
raise is purchased by the College at the market price; but no compulsioa 
is used to make the Students labor; nor do we think it admissible, 

"15. h not the Diocese neglected in its spiritual interests, for want of the 
attention by the Bishop, owing to his location? 

The Constitution requires the Bishop, as President, to reside at the Col- 
lege, and do his olhcial duties. He, however, is supposed to be at liberty 
to visit the Diocese, whenever his presence is not absolutely required at 
home. That this last has seldom happened, owing to the imperious exi- 
gencies of the Institution, is a melancholy fact, caUing for tears and prayers. 
It is consoling, however, to be assured, by the clearest evidence, that the 
College, the verv <^xistence of which has detained the Bishop so much from 
hi^'personal visitations in the Diocese, has been the means of cherishing so 



many clergy and pious young men, who have done nauch good, in supply* 
ing the parisfies wila 'nuisters and Sunday Sciiool teachers. If the qutt3» 
tion be, as to the %.nount of good etFected, wiietaer more with the College 
than Tjoitkout it, the former would exceed the latter, doubtless, many fold. 
May the time soon come when the Bishop can be released from his cares, 
by the muniicence of the public, la rearing the College from its present 
depressed condition! 

I will say nothing now, as to the assuming and dictatorial character of 
these questions, and of their being preferred by a person like Mr West. One 
thing I caniot forbear remarking; that if the patrons of Kenyon College, Ie 
England a»d Ireland, can read with patience, what this man has presumed 
to do in America, I have much mistaken their character. From this long 
digression, (I think not altogether an unnecessary one,) I would return to 
the history of Mr West on the College Hill. 1 was but partially informed 
of the extent of his malicious proceedings against me; and when he reques- 
ted to be admitted to the sitting of the Trustees, as President of the Board, 
I thought it my duty to receive him with civility. If I gave him no rough 
Hsage, it was because I wished him to understand that I bore towards him 
no malice in my heart, and that what I had said in public was from a sense 
of duty. If I did not turn from him my face, it was because he was still a 
presbyter of the Diocese ; and if i gave him my hand, it was because I had 
not then read his character, since given us from New Brunswick, (N. S.) 
and was quite ignorant of the schemes he had laid in New York to ruiji 
our College. 

Mr West requested that the moneys which /had mentioned in my address^ 
as proper to defer paying, till we should have heard again from the English 
Trustees, should be paid him or the person who had advanced some funds 
for his expenses, immediately. And the Trustees agreed to it on a princi- 
ple of avoiding even the appearance of difficulty. Whether their judg- 
ment, however charitable, were the more correct: perhaps the following 
extract from Mr Marriott's letter to me, under date of the 5th of Octobers 
1830, will show: 

"I deeply lament his, Mr West's, making any demand from you, after his 
expenses by sea and land being paid. Certainly nothing could be due be- 
yond what he received here. I hope that my letter announcing the £lOO 
paid after his departure, reached you before you made further advances to 
him." 

To the £lOO, mentioned in this extract, Mr Marriott had told me, in a 
previous letter, he had added £\5 more "as a rider;'''' which, with othe» 
sums advanced to Mr West, constituted, acccordingto the assertion of Me 
Marriott, in the above extract an abundance to bear '•his expenses by seijr 
and land." 

What then, would he have thought, had he seen this sturdy, unblushing 
man, before the Trustees, most solemnly contradicting his (Mr Marriott's) 
assertion, by affirming that he had not his expenses paid, neither by sea 
nor land, and demanding, on pain of branding Bishop Chase with injustice, 
^355 yVu more! And how would Mr M trriott, and each and all of my bene- 
factors in England, have pitied, in seeing me made the instrument of r^ 
funding to him what they had designed for far other purposes! 

Mr We^t then presented c^tain other papers, wtiich tbs Secretary of ^ 



•IS 

Boai^ of Trustees, I am sorry^ to say, informs me he cannot find, or thejT 
should be inserted here. . It appears, however, they wer«j the occasion oi 
the resolutions of tiie Board, as in the Appendix, No. 2. The duties point- 
ed out by the Difectors of the Board of Trustees there referred to were 
duly performed, and the papers specitied were forwarded by mail from 
the Gambier Post Office. 

No answers have been returned, to my knowledge, through any official 
channel: and it seems that you. Doctor Milnor, il I may conjecture from 
several expressions in your letter, are quite uninformed of their contents. 
One thing seems plain ; that the wish, so kindly expressed in your letter, that 
"the public mind might be disabused from the slanders of Mr West," 
would have bef'n fulfilled, and perhaps rendered unnecessary, had the a- 
bove documents been made public ;^^ for I cannot believe that all >our ves- 
try are prejudiced against me. 

Mr West left Gambier Hill, and in passing through M unt VernoHy 
either by his own hand, or through his then admirers, communicated the 
matter for one of his artful neziyspape,r articles. — The dares make this evi- 
dent. The paper, in which it is inserted, is dated on the I itb, and the day 
on which Mr West appeared before the Trustees, was the I Gth, as you may 
observe by the extracts from their minutes in the Appendix. This arti le I 
never saw, till it appeared in the Atlantic papers: and 1 must confess, I was 
not aware of the use intended to be made of it, till, as I was informed, Mr 
West carried this precious morsel in his budget to New York, and made it 
the basis of his report to ihe. genUemen, said to be a committee of the 3!Jilnor 
Professorship in New York. It stated how Mr West made an interesting 
^eech; and of the great satisfactian it gave to a concourse of people; and 
g^^oke of the ^^misunderstanding parties.^^ The crime of his ambitious concu- 
owcence, of course, was not mentioned in it. 

Now, supposing the gentlemen, "the committee of the Milnor Professor- 
ship," were quite inclined to think well of Mr West, as their accredited a- 
^enito bring me to account for my conduct; they would receive anycommu- 
cations he might make to them, as from the scene of his (official duties, with 
tender approbation ; even lis verbal accounts of his proceedings must be be- 
lieved. What unbounded credence, therefore, must be allowed him, when 
he produces his newspaper evidence,^ words "in pdnt," from an editor who, 
if he were hot present, and an eye witness of all that was done, and an 
auditor of all that was said by Mr West, yet had faithful runners and re- 
porters, to give him timely information of what, in the space of a few hours, 
was even ^rumored,'' between Gambier and Mount Vernon, five miles or more. 

All acquainted with Mr West's habits of getting articles inserted in the 
newspapers in one place, which he means to appear in another, will not be 
surprised at his proceedings in the present case. He wished to persuade 
ihe gentlemen in New York, (and prepared as they were, perhaps they 
needed but httle done to effect that end,) that he had performed nobl^ liis 
part, in defending himself in the case of his alledged trimes, and in investi- 
gating the conduct of Bishop Chase: and what way more likely to do it, 
tlian the one to which he had .-o often resorted ; that is, to show them what 
was said in "t>rmV' even in the Gazettes. That these gentlemen of the 
Gommittee, fee. were q ite overc me by snch f'virl c. i > nt surprising 
fp apj one, especiaUj to me, who havey to my sorrow, been imposed on by 



19 

^is Mr We«t, often in this way. And who can wonder, that has ever eil^ 
joyed the treat of seeing Mr West's ''''budget of printed documents,'''' abounds- 
ing with extracts of pamphlets, and "printed speeches," and "conQmunica» 
tions" from "respectable individuals," and persons "in high quarters," and 
pieces purporting to be "Editorial articles," &,c., &c., all written by himself, 
or at his instigation? I had well nigh, by these means, believed that he 
was of a noble family, in or about Manchester, in Old England. And the 
standing committee of Ohio, did actually beUeve him to be an approved 
minister, in good standing, amongst the Methodist denomination of claris-- 
tians; and as such, did admit him with' ut a course of probation, to the 
benefit of the Cano'i, made to "admit Clergymen of other denominations 
into our Church." On this ground, (for they could have no other) tney 
recommended him for Holy Oiders, without probation. And of this fact 
they were persuaded, by "the printed documents'''' he then produced. But 
siric':\ as 1 have het^r, told, he has dmied to Mr Marriott, of London, hi« 
ever h ving been a Metiiodist Minister. ( ertainly, on his return hither, 
he reiterated this denial, to iny utter astonishment, and that of others; and 
threatened [who will not tremble!] with his heavy displeasure, good Mr 
Morse, of Steubenville, Ohio, (or having recorded him as a Methodist 
Minister, at the en'l of his sermon, preached under the trees at Gambler at 
bii ordination. I wish we had kept some of his ^'•printed documents,''^ pro- 
ving him to be such: they were small pieces cut out of raewspapers; and 
Mr West, as usual, wished t nem returned to his budget. Had these beea 
retained, "the committee of the Milnor Professorship" might have givea 
some credit to our statements, instead o( giving themselves so entirely up 
into the hands of that extraordinary character, as appears from what yoa 
say has been the effect of Mr West's second return to New York. 

lo reverting to the letter, which I am now answering, you are pleased 
to say that in makiiig my defe)>ce against "Mr West and his adherents," I 
ought "to give an early and lucid explanation of the whole work under my 
care^ so as to disabuse the public mind, and show the falsehoods of the state' 
meni^ which my enemies have made on these and other points of a similar 
kind." Much of this explanation has be£-n (I trust to your satifaction) 
^iven in answering the preceding fifteen inquisitorial items; but your re- 
quest being so unmeasured, as well as so sincere and friendly, I will com- 
mence the task, though long, and, to the public eye, I fear, so tediously 
particular. 

As a preliminary to which, I beg you ewrefully to notice, that I humbly 
conceive the testimony above given is sufficient to establish mine integrity; 
which testimony, joined to that of my own bosom, reheves me from any 
apprehensions on this score. But one thing remains; and that is, my 
judgfuent, in the correctness of which I feel, and have always felt, great 
diffidence. Little did I thmk, when I first commenced this great work, 
that the whole of the planning and management of it, from the first plat- 
form, to the minutest r'etail, would fall on one so unworthy, whose talents 
were so small, and whose judgment was so weak, as my own. Yet, 
when the time came, the duty was so imperious, and the necessity was so 
great, I would not shrink from the task; for, in so doing, I thought I saw 
the whole would fail. No alternative, therefore, but to undertake the 
work, and, poor as my judgment was, conscientiously to obey its dictateg! 



0nder this impression, in all our deliberations before the Convention, ans^ 
with others, 1 onteuded for the placing of our Institution on our own do- 
main, aside and at a distance from any town or village. Under this impres- 
sion, I contended for the Seminary's possessing a large tract of land, where- 
wi|hal to be surrounded, and which was never to be alienated bj lease or 
deed, so as to give up the power of removing at will, any thing and every 
thing detrimental to the morals, or injurious to the studies of youth. Un- 
der this impression, there was selected n body of land in the cei'tre of the 
Slate; healthy beyond a doubt, and abounding with the best of soil, timber 
and the purest water. And that place is it on which are situated the 
Farms, the Mills, the College, the Church, the Village, and other build- 
ings, which I am now about to describe; that some idea may be formed of 
their relative importance, and what credence is due to the insinuations of 
Mr West and his adherents, on the score of extravagance and misapplica- 
tion of funds. 

1. THE FARMS. 

Some' of these were partially cleared when we bought the land. Some 
were covered and held by leases, or pretended leases, which, because we 
were unwilling to dispute, were suffered to expire atter two or three years, 
JLittle or no fence worth naming any where; the inhabitants having de- 
fended their crops by personal vigilance: every field, therefore, had to be 
fenced anew. This we did, while we cleared off, cut down and burned the 
remaining trees on every lot. Was this an improper expenditure? We 
thmk not: for by so doing, we have had some good of the land, of which 
we should have been otherwise deprived. You would be surprised to see 
what we have done this wny. The number of rails we have caused to be 
split and laid into fence, is 76,325. Till Mr West's "adherents" complained 
at this item of expense, I never thought [such was the turn of my judg= 
ment] of being blamed for it. For what purpose was the land purchased, 
and so secured to be in our possession for ever, but to be enjoyed? And 
how coubi we enjoy it without fences? We could not keep a number of 
idle children to run miles with dogs to drive away intruding animals, as 
others had done before us: we had more important duties to attend to. 
The grounds which we have, since we came into possession, opened for 
cultivation, consist chiefly of bottom land, for Indian corn. Of this kind, 
there are about 125 acres, nearly all of it in that sort of grain last year; 
and, although the season was unfavorable, so that, in general, there was not 
half a crop, yet we had about 2,000 bushels of sound corn, besides the im- 
mense quantities used in a green state, by our great family and numerous 
stock. What should we have done without ^his crop, secured only by 
fences? The same question may be said, by way of anticipation, in refer- 
ence to the wheat fields, sown with this most necessary grain and laid down 
to grass. We have now in the old ground, cleared ofl for that purpose last 
fall, 120 acres. These are most flourishiiig, although pastured all the fall 
by our young stock. The quantity is not, I will allow, suflicient to support, 
even in the event of a full crop, our numerous family. These words may 
seem strange to you. Dr. Milnor, yet they are true. The amount of 
money which was paid during th^ last year, for wheat for our own con^ 



sumption, was $509 25; this, aside from the avails of our own crop, not 
inconsiderable. Who, then, would not strive to raise grain? Kspecially 
when, by so doing, the land can be put in order for grass. The tin;olhy 
grass seed sown since February, 1829, is 71| bushels; clover, do. 6|, isto 
sustain, without expense, milch cows and fatlings, for the use of the College. 
I must confess I have acted with a view to economy in this; and if not 
bereft of the little reason I have, I should act so again, year .-.fter year, 
till all our rich bottom lands were cleared off, and two thousand acres of 
our fertile soil were spread to the genial rays of the sun, producing grass 
for a thousand cattle, affording milk and meat for ave hundred students, on 
cheaper terms than the world ever saw. 

The present quantity of opened and cleared land, including the abov^ 
named Indian corn and wheat land; also, the rye a-^d oa'> fields for next 
summer, with meadows and pastures, nearly all well fenced, is about "TOO 
acres. I have not mentioned the fields designed for orcharding, thou;il! we 
have them nearly prepared, and 600 grafted trees bought and on the spot^ 
to set out in the spring. So much for the Farms. 

2. SAWMILL, GRISTMILL, DAM AND RACE. 

If we had not been blessed with these, the College never could have 
•succeeded. A. id yet they were much objected to at first. Before we 
co.i-menced with them, we were told of their enormous expense, and « on- 
tinual trouble. The predictions have been, in some degree, realized: 
Ihey, in common with many other good and necessary things, lu.ve been 
expensive and troublesome; and yet they have proved necessary to the 
very existence of the College Establishment. So that were I now asked 
whether ctn^ College could (even suppose all other buildings were erected 
at the expense of the Public Government, as ours should be, to give our 
plan an honest chance,) succeed in bringing down the expense of a puMic 
education as we have done without the benefit of mills, such as we have, 1 
would say, no. 

Acting on the truth of the above observations, 1 have had reason not to 
find fault with myself for following my own judgment, in opposition to 
that of many of my friends, who condemned the measure of building mill? 
for the College. 

Their cost by estimation is, 

Saw Mill, |350 

Grist Mill, - 2000 

Dam and Race, 1 'jOO 

The expense of the last item mentioned would have been much greatei^ 
had not the hand of a peculiar Providence assisted in the work. 

3. MILLER'S HOUSE. 

This building is a necessary appendage to the mill; which, being near- 
ly one mile from the oversight of the persons on the College Hill, mustre- 
quire a family near at hand, to take care of so valuable a properly. The 
house for this purpose is one and a half story high, 24 fe t long and 16 
wide, and has under it a good walled cellar, with convenience in an outer 



fire place to the chimney, to make an additional room for another mi^ 
ler. It is adjacent to a beautiful field of clover, and bas round it a good 
garden. 

Its cost is estimated at, $175 

4. STUDENTS' HOUSES. 

In the little place honored with the name of '•^Gambief Village^'' there ar« 
three h< uses occupied by the Students, A\ o\ the shme dimensions; that is^ 
20 by 38 feet, two stories high, with good walled cellars. They have each 
eight rooms sufficiently large to accommodate two ariult Students. They 
are furnished with stoves and stove pipes, beds and bedding, at the exper se 
of the College; each of these houses, together with the furniture, is esti-^ 
mated at f 6S6, amount, |j 187 8. Is there any extravagance here? 

5. OF THE HOTEL, 

In the same village there is also a building called the Hotel, erected onisl 
good foucdation, and over a walled cellar. It was intended for the accom- 
modation of visitors and travelers from a distance; at d i^ two stories high, 
having two convenient rooms below and five bed rooms above. It is well 
furnished for comfort,, but no unnecessary expense. This is the place where 
the stage coach stops; and with the benefit accniing from that establish- 
ment, produces a small receipt to the College. Instead of considering it a 
matter of regret, that we have been at the expense of erecting, furnishing 
and supporting this building, we have reason to be deeply sorrowful that it 
is not four times as large. If it were, the profits created by the entertain^ 
ment of ladies and gentlemen, from various parts of the country, who have 
expressed their desire of spending the summer term, and many of them 
the winter term, with their sons at College, would more than maintain a 
Professor in the Institution. No one, therefore, can say that the expenses 
£if this establishment constitute extravagance when they did not exceed, 

Value of building, ^550 

Furniture, 37 5 

«- — 925 

6. THE HOTEL STABLE. 

A well covered building, 42 feet long and 38 wide, well built with strong 
timber, and floored with thick plank, having a covering for carriages, as 
well as convenient stalls for horses, groom's room and granaries, and loft for 
hay. The only complaint is that, on public days, it is too small for ovet 
necessities. Cost, $350 

7. CARPENTER AND SHOEMAKER'S SHOP. 

There is another building near the Hotel, containing a Carpenter's and 

Shoemaker's shop, two stories high, 38 feet long and '■lO broad. This 

building is erected over a good cellar, and furnished with stoves, beds, ^c, 

: at the expense of the College. The net profits of the Shoemaker's sjiop- 



23> 

itfe not large, but help to support our Institution, Here certainly therfe is 
no f^xtravrtgance. — Tiie cost of this building, with its furniture, &c. is esti" 
mated at f 200 

8. DAlRYxMAN'S HOUSE, 

A small building in the village for the accommodation of the Dairymai) 
and his family. It is one and a half story high, and has a good cellar 
below, devoted to the making of candles, which are, and must always be, 
in sufficient quantitie<s to supply the whole College establishment; i. e. 
more than 150 Students, all the Teachers, the Printing office. Hotel and 
Mill and Store, &c. The father of the family, Mr Robert Williams, whom 
you know, and who, (from the beneficence afforded him on his arrival in New 
York from Ireland, coming hither, has great reason to be grateful to you 
and Mr Burtus) superintends this business, while his children and wife attend 
to our dairy of 30 cows, (our necessities require, if our funds would a)low, 
100 even now.) Mr Williams's family also take care of our yourg cattle, 
now amounting to about 70. This, I trust, does not manifest extravagance ; 
for the whole dimensions of this building do not exceed 20 feet by 15, 
and did not cost more than ^150 

9. COW STABLE. 

This is a building 94 feet long and 20 wide ; a passage of 8 feet wide 
In the middle, wit'n mangers on each side to feed provender. There is a 
story over head, into which forage is introduced to be thrown to the cows^ 
tied side by side, facing the said passage; and the consequent ease with 
which the dairy-woman tends to them, and gathers and secures the milk, 
in comparatively much greater quantities, is the peculiar characteristir 
of this building justifying its expense, which was ,$250, or thereabouts. 

iO. STACK YARD; THRESHING FLOOR; GRANARY; OX 
SHED, AND BOARD FENCE. 

Between the dairyman's house and the above, is a substantial building, 
two stories high and 24 feet square; the lower for a threshing floor, the 
upper story for the deposit of corn and small grain. The timbers are 
large and the flooring plank thick: around this building are our stacks of 
oats, rye, wheat and hay; all surrounded with a high board fence, inclosing 
about two acres, which opens into another yard of about the same quan- 
tity, where our oxen, 50 in number, and some large young cattle, are kept;' 
and in which is a neat built shed, well covered, with convenient substantial 
■packs nearly 300 feet long, and 12 feet high and 12 feet v/ide. 

All this, with the board fence, cost ||316 

11. THE OLD DINING HALL. 

Before we moved into the stone College, we had erected a building for 
a dining hall, now occupied for a grammar school house, until t' e new 
^ne will have been completed. It is a story and a half high, furniehed 



m 

with school tables and benches, and two good stoves and necessary plpe^i 
it is estimated to have cost ^fjlSO 

FurniturCj 50 

230 

12. WATER FOR THE COLLEGE HILL, 

A well was commenced, previously to the College edifice, and dug about 
50 iect deep, mostly through a rock, since deepened to 100 feet. We in- 
tend going further with it as soon as we get funds; it being a most eligible 
situation, and right in front of the College: the convenience of having 
water from it would be immense. 

At present, our water is obtained from a well in the village, and from a 
copious and cold springof very fine water, about three fourths of a mile from 
the College, whose fountain is within 40 feet of the level of the College 
edifice, and can be brought in pipes to a cistern on the side of the College 
hill, within 300 yards of the College, z/zue had funds. At present, this springs 
is carried a ievf rods on declining ground, then forced up in a pent-stock, 
thence into a cistern of suliicient elevation to admit the driving of a water 
cart under, and filling a hogshead thereon in four minutes. From this cis- 
tern, the waste water is carried into a Jrough in a pasture connected with 
the lot, embracing the sheds and stables ; all for the watering of our stock 
and cows. 

The cost of well at the College, $270 

at the Village, 30 

Aqueduct and pipes and cistern and trough at the spring, 25 

13. OF THE PRINTING OFFICE. 

This is a small building with two low stories, good frame and floors and 
windows, but cheaply finished for the use of the Printing office. It has a 
stoveand proper furniture. We hope, that besides the convenience and 
necessity of sach an establishment, attached to our Institution, there 
will ultimately arise considerable profit from it. 

The cost, aside from the gift of Sir Thomas and Lady Acland, from 
whom the press takes its name, has been considerable, to the amount of 
.(including the house,) ^350. 

14. COLLEGE STABLE, 

A well built shelter for three or four horses, having a loft for hay abovCj; 
and convenient stalls, and bins for h rse feed. Cost, ^80 

13. PROFESSOR'S HOUSE. 

This was erected previously to the College. It is built of stone and weft 
jinished. It has a 'iJOo^^ rellar of hewn stone an-l is 34 feet long and ' 9 
wide, with dec'.it ro'smr i; a half story ahnvp. It has a wide gallery, and 
the addition of a good kitchen built of wood. It is situated near the Col 



fege, and ts a part of a house, which vvill, 1 hope, he one day erected, aad, 
appear, at a distance, as au extierae oioneof tiie College wi igs. 

Co 4, ^d\Q 63 

Kitchen, \-2i> 

1041 e& 

la. COLLEGE KITCHEN. 

A substantial stone huilding erected the last summer, immediately soutk 
i»f the great edifice. It is two stories: ttie lower siory answers for a baiccry 
at one end, the cooking of j-neat and vegetables in the otner. It has three 
large ovens and a large hre place in the east division, and two hre places, 
and two furnaces and three large boilers in the west division. Above are 
two rooms: one for a smoke house, 30 feet by ^20; and the other a dwelling 
for a family. The hearths are large, all of cut stone, and the floors of inch 
and half planks. Such is the magnitude of the College family, that this 
building could not be spared, though it might serve for the victualing of 
still more than we have. Whether this has been an object of fault finding, 
I cannot say. This building, with its furniture, cost a great deal, and is very 
valuable. It is 40 by 30 feet, and two stories high. 

Cost about, |9G0 

17. OF THE BUILDINGS OF HEWED LOGS. 

These I supjjose have not excited any unpleasant feelings. 

1. The north part of the shop or College store., is of tliis description: and 
together with the addition of a frame building of about 15 feet square, the 
whole may have cost 2>'»0 dollars. Our goods to pay our hands and furnish 
the College and Students, and books for sale, are kept in it. 

Store, ^200 

Furniture, 42 

2. Two houses occupied by our Clerk ajod Printer. They were built 
in early times, and served once for the residence of myself and family. 

Cost, |200 

3. A doable corn crib, being originally built with massive hewed logs, 
^as at little expense converted into a meat house, in which was stowed laaf 
All, the meat of about two hundred and fifty hogs. 

Gust, f34 

18. OF THE CABINS ON THE COLLEGE PREMISES. 

'These are not of much value ; yet some of tliem very useful. — Two are 
•jnder the side of the College Hill, and being large and well furnished with 
good fire places and stoves, atford comfortable dining rooms and sleeping 
rooms for the hands who are employed for the College. Seventy me* 
dianics and laborers have been fed for months together at these cabins. 
The cost of them is estimated at ^7^ 

And their furniture, cooking utensils, &c. at JO 

There are twelve others, some of which we built ourselves; and all ng^ay 
be worth the inffrsst of 400 dollars. 

© 



J9. CASCU; 

A neat small biiildin;gf, situate at the c rner of Bexley sqtiare, whose fifsi, 
^inhabitants were Mr ' 'aswall and IVlr ' 'usack, from t'lP ianction of whose 
jnamt'S the house is called, ft is 2 ) feet loig and ) 2 wide, has two bd aiid 
oae small sitting room, with a good stove and pipe. 



Cost, $75 

Furniture, 29i, 



20. HFRMITAGFi. 



This is a convenient dwelling for three or four Students, romantically 
JBtuated on the west side of Gambier hill, entirely embosomed in trees and 
thick foliage. The frame was put up at tho expense of that worthy gentle- 
man who graduated in our first class, iVIr Savers, now at the; Theological 
Seminary at Alexandria, and at his departure prese-^ ted to the Tollege* 
The building was covered and finished at the Instance of Mr M'Guide and 
Mr Philips, of Virginia, who now occupy it. 

The cost of it was not much; not enough to constitute extravagance of, 
expenditure. Beside the young men, for their amusement, did a great 
deal of the labour. It has a stove and pipe at the expense of the College^. 

Biiildir.g,, $30 

Furniture, 29 

21. KENYON COLLKGE GRAMMAR SCHGOE/, 

This building, now finishing, I grieve to say, is (with the exception of ian.; 
j^cellent stone and brick chimney, 70 feet high) entirely of wood. It is 74 
feet long and 40 broad, and may be said; to be three stories high. In it is a 
school room 60 feet long and 40 wide ; aad 1 1^ feet above this is a dormitory^, 
intended to accommodate boys, having an upper story with windows, similar' 
to those in a nave of a Church, intended for ventilation. It has two rooms 
for teachers, one for recitation, and one for washing of the persons of the 
scholars. Below all is a story for receiving and preserying fuel: a wagon 
being permitted to drive through and deposit the load&of wood in passing, 
saves much labor and expense. • 

The school room serves on Sunday for divine service, in which we are 
now assisted by the organ, presented us by our excellent benefactress. 
Lady Rpsse. 

Cost thus far. 1 1,500 

Furniture 35 

22. COLLEGE BUILDING. 

Is this a cause of the slanders of Mr West and his "adherents,"' whiclfili 
you mention? or does it form a subject of secret comjdaint among my ene- 
mies near at home? 

Whether one or both of these be the casp, I will "^-'^deavor to meet it; 
and having given my reason^ throw, m) Self on the Un partial decision and 
just judgment of my feeaefactors. 



27 

Ihave heard but of two objections made to Kenyon College: the one b 
tiinided on the broad basis of my having done wrony, in building with 
^r'v/mnf.n^, instead of less expensive, and move perishable materials; and the 
ottier is, (hat the walls of the present building are too thick. 

The former of Ihese two objections, that of having built the centre build- 
"ing of stone, I nevei- heard of till lately, and can see but little force in it. 

When we were choosing, ad enumerating the reasons lor choosing, the 
grounds which we now possess, it was, in the minds of all who expressed 
their opinion, no small recommendation, that there was abundance of stone^ 
for permanent buildings, such as the nature of so glorious an Institution 
required. It was enumerated among the reasons why a liberal donation 
was justly expected from the generous and opulent, that the buildi' gs 
would be of permanent materials: and when questioned (which seldom 
failed to be the case,) of whaft kind were the means of building on the pre- 
mises, it was never concealed that they ^ven; f.tone, and of the same kind 
01 stone as the Capitol at Washington is built of, which, by the goodness 
of God, we now enjoy in such abundance; and of this same would the 
buildings, to which they would contribute, be built. On these grounds, 
as conditions, they gave, and I received ; and went on in building the College 
■with stone: which, ij I had not done, I should have violated mv promise; 
and thus, by not perlorming the conditiors, forfeited the donations. Thi(5 
would have been the case, 1 contend, if the College had been erected of 
brirk: much more, if I had (bllowcd the maxims now adopted; let posterity 
1kike care of itself;'"' ^'Ictiis havf- wooden buildingf~ ;''"' "we shall have more to 
show and more to enjoy." 1 am t!:ankful the donors do not concur in this 
statement. Above all, I arti thankful that a 'merciful Providence sustaiiis 
ine, under tlie painful feelings which such objections occasion. 

The second objection is more specif]''. The walls are too thick! 

Our walls are four feet thick in the basement story, three ieti six inch^ 
in the first floor, three feet in the uppermost story, being crowned with 
solid stones of the same width, to hin'i all together. On these walls is laid 
a frame roof of great strength, to support a steeple, in proportion to tne 
building. The plan of the College was adopted without rashness; having 
consulted the best architects in our cities. It was said, with great empha- 
sis, that no wall made of our kind of stone ought to be less than two and a 
half feet thick at top, and four at bottom, in a building of four stories high^ 
and su^taiiiing a suitable steeple and bell. In addition to this advice, from 
those who ought to kiiow, both by theory and practice, I had local reasons. 
Our College hill is high, and open to the influence of violent winds, from 
whatever direction they may arise: and there is evidence of its having 
suffered much in this way; nearly all the large trees on its surface evidently 
having once been blown up by the roots. In planning for a permanent 
building, therefore,! thought myself justifiable in using all the nieans that 
'God had given us, t6 guard against the dreadful effects of hurricanes, so 
frequent in our country. With this view. I the more readily acceded to 
the judgment of others respecting the thickness of our walls; and to this 
moment I cannot but feel a high degree of satisfaction, in common, I sup^ 
Ipose, with the scholars and their friends, that in case of dangerous winds^ 
there is a place of refuge within the w Us of Kenyon College. 

The College building is furnished with bG berths, wi(h comfortable h^^^ 



28 

ding and changes; 21 stoves and pipes; and with kitchen and dining room, 
furniture for nearly 200 in family, and with some conveniences for steward^ 
children and hired help. 

The cost, on book, of the College, without reckoning the nameless 
things that were done by myself, and other of its friends, and never 
noted, is ^13,825 59 

Furniture 1,839 00 



115,664 69 



23. ROSSE CHAPEL. 

In speaking on this instance of our expenditure, 1 am well aware that it 
i*s a su>>]ect of great interest, on which there is a ditference of opinion among 
the professed friends of the Institution. I shall, therefore, state nothing 
but facts, and give my reasons for the course I have taken. 

This building. I mean the site chosen for the building, and where the 
jfnaterials are collected and the work begun, is on the west side, because 
the most elevated part of a square, laid down in our plan called Bexley 
square, precisely 40 rods north of Kenyon College. The steeple or tower 
is to front the square, and the chancel is in the rear or west end. I regret 
this, because it reverses the significant arrancfement observed generally by 
our Church, an alhision being had to the placing of the chancel in the 
east, to the Oriens ex Alto mentioned in Scripture. But at the same 
time, I cannot t.hii>l<, with some of my friends, that it is of so ijreat conse- 
^uence, as not to be departed from when the inconvenience would be con- 
giderable in oi^serving it. In the present instance, to place the chancel at 
tbe east, would be putting it at the entrance of the Church, and throwing 
the tower at the west end, much to the disadvantage of the looks and con- 
venience of the building. But ihisis not the subject of complaint, but of a 
few, and them at a distance, who have not visited our place. 
The dimensions of the Chapel are as follows: 

Length of the body, 100 feet from out to out 

Chancel, . 40 

Towdr, 10 



150 



Breadth, 66 

The walls in the basement are 3 feet thick, the foundation is deep suak 
in the ground, and the whole is carried up to the first floor, on which the 
timhers, both girders, beams and joists, are framed, and pinned together 
with great care. The winter coming on, all was covered, and remains safe 
from the weather. 

In the house built for the preservation of the materials, there is lime 
enough to more than half finish the Church: and the same maybe said of the 
stones that lie all round the building; three quarters of which are alrea- 
dy cut, ready to be placed on the wall. The masons inform me, that if we 
include what is already drawn, and also those not hauled, but got out an^ 
'l^repared at the quarries, there is more than that proportioQ^i 



29 

Here then we stand. The Church even in its erection, not to speak of1ts 
fimsh, is but half 'Jone, and we stop: and in so doi! g. I am asked, wnv did 
J commence a building of this nature on so large a scale? 

I answer, because it is no larger than it ought to be: and this, I think I 
can prove to anyone, who, without the weight on his mind of a preconr 
ceived opiuion, will patiently and candidly listen to me. 

I suppose it will be granted mc, that our Church ought to be large enough 
not o ly to hold ordi'iary coi.gregcttions, but to accommodate with seats 
the Iviends a; d relatives of the Students, who attended, as we witnessed 
\cih\. commencement^ tiie speakin;i and otiier exercises of their sons, on inter- 
esting occasioMS. I( this be urarted, w 'ich I think no reasotiable person 
Wj.;l det.y, then are We prepared lo make it plain, that the dimensions oi 
Rop-se Chapel, are on the Z^S9, instead of the ,iJ•rfo^r extreme. 

Kenyon College w«s intended to be a ,;rea"t T sti-ution,of extensive use- 
fulress; an;l if tljc public (ontidence be not withdrawn (romus, by preraa-. 
tureand groundless fnult findins:, it will vet be completed on its original 
de-ign,of ac< ommodatiug 5(iO Students and upwards. 'J'he present num- 
ber does not exceed one third that quantity, solely tor want of buildings, 
which the Public Government ought to enable me, as they have always ena- 
bled other Colleges, to rear. 

Such, however, is the goodness of our cause, in trying to benefit the 
rising generations ot our dear country; and such our trust in the merciiul 
assurances of Divine Providence, which, from time to time, have been 
so signally vouchsafed us, that it would be criminal not to believe liie 
wings of the College will be built; and unpardonably criminal, were 1 to 
let my infidelity proceed to such length, as (o carve out a scanty plan lor 
the House of God — a place too small to accommodate an audience suited, 
in some degree, to the greatness of our plan. 

This was my motive, and these were my impressions, w^hen 1 sat down to 
draw a plan for Rosse Chapel. I saw that a building was required, that 
would accommodate 500 Students and an ordinary congregation, from the 
Professors, Teachers, Clerks, Officers and Servants, added to the inhabi- 
tants of the neighborhood to be as many more; making in all one thousand, 
the net number when all should be in complete operation: and what di- 
mensions should that edifice have which should accomplish this design? — 
The body of that which I determined to build is, exclusive of the Tower 
and Chancel, internally, 94 by 60, w^hich being multiplied together, pro- 
duce 5640 square leet. Out of this sum must be taken the room for the aisles, 
which, instead of doing, ! allowed nothing for the Chancel and end Gallery: 
5640 square feet therefore are to be considered as the room, lo be divided 
into sittings for the Students and congregation. How much room will 
each person -.n an average require? I was answered, 2 feet one way and 
3 feet the other, without crowding; = 6 square feet. 5640 divided by 6==:. 
940. This was so near the number thought of, that the dimension chosen 
for the Chapel seemed unavoidable. 

but there is another way of considering this affair, arriving at the same 
conclusion, but by a different process. You observe I made no allowance 
for extraordinary occasions. Ought these to be overlooked? Suppose that 
the friends of the Students and the friends of the Institution, and the mem- 
bers of the Convention, attend as they have hitherto done, every year in- 



so 

treasing "beyond expectation. Are these to be unaccommodated ? Are pei^ 
sons who come 50 and IwO, and some several hundred miles, to hear the 
■Students declaim, and the Clergy preach at the Convention and Commence- 
3nent, and when there, to find no seat nor shelter from the storm? 

It was well last year that there was no rain nor inclement weather, when 
^o many people attended in the open air, to witness Commencement exer- 
cises. 

Well, suppose there are 5 spectators to each Student, (which certainly 
was the case last summer, and granting our number of Students not t© 
exceed 250, which will be the case, if all things proceed as usual, next 
summer after the building now erecting, 74 by 40, shall have been finished.) 
you will see that the Church must have space to adcommadate 260 Stu- 
dents, and an audience of 1250; in all, 1500. 

Thus it is seen, thatinstead of the present Chapel being too large, one 
summer will prove it of too small dimensions. 

All this for the presents What then will one generation, our own chif- 
dren, think of i\\e fault Jinding spirit^ o! which I am now complaining? 
when they shall see Rosse Chapel, '•Harge and expensive^^'' as it is now said td 
be, actually too small to contain h^df the multitude assembled on the great 
and coDJoiHed occasion of the Convention of the Church, and the com- 
Bfiencement of Kenyon College. , 

Rosse Chapel cost, ^3,019 96 

The amount of the previous items broCight forward^ 29,356 22 

Total cost of buildings, 32,376 1^ 

It has cost the College in clearing off 1 50 acres new 
land, in making betterments on old farms, making, hauK 
Ing and laying up 76,325 rails, and in putting in the crops 
toT the ensuing year, not far from ^2,000 

Cellars foT two houses, dug and stoned, 40 

2,040 Of 

So much for the fixed estate 
: The moveables^ besides those under the term of "furniture," m€ntioiie«! 
with the buildings, are as follow: 
,1 Cooking stove, ,§35 ; College bell, $3 1 5 39, 350 39 

8 horses, |'540; l-mail coach, $150; small, do.| 75, 763 00 
8 wagons, f240; 3 cart?, |75'; sleds, |18; har- 
ness, |30, 363 0& 
8 ploughs S56; axes and quarry tools, $29; large 

potash kettle, |6, 91 00 

20 chains, |60; 10 shovels, ,$'12; 6 mattocks, 1 12; 

black smith tools, ,f 7 5, , 159 00 

.200 hogs, |23 1 ; 53 yearlings, $ 1 59 ; 1 2 calves, ^\ 8, 408 00 
55 yoke of oxen, |l,000; 30 cows, ^300; other 

cattle, ,^148, 1,443 00 

• 3,584 ^ 

3000 volumes of books, philosophical apparatus, ) Given — Rot esffi^- 
organ, types a:nd pViiiting press, 5 oiatecb 



94. THE QUESTION OF "HIRING BY CONTRACT,'* O^ , 
BY THE MONTH, COiN SIDE RED. *^ 

Much has been said concerning a supposed error of mine, in the mode 
Sidopted of procujrinij the work done on the College premises. It has been 
asserted that, for the sake of cheapness, I ought to have procured it all 
do.ie by ^'•contract,'''' Itisie.id of this, I have hired hands, boarded tiiom, and 
paid ihem by the month. This objection has been made, not by the ene- 
mies you speak of, Dear Sir, but by those who cannpt be otherwise than 
friendly to the Institution; so that J f<^el myself constrained to answer it as 
candidly as I can. 

I feel it my duty to proceed in the way I have done, for reasons, both 
<ii^ligidus^ moral and economicah 

1. My re/igjous reasop was, and is, that, having promised to mv Maker, 
wh- u I first stepped foot on the College hill, that by his grace 1 would do 
iny endeavors to suppress vice, especialU thai of intemperance, in o// under 
my care andcharge,* I saw no way of fulfillin;c{ t'lis vow, but by having the 
control of the ground, and by hiring and dismissiisg the hands, not. through 
the medium of a contractor, but by my own observation and will. 

2. My second, reason was mora/ in its nature; having reference to the 
^morals of the students and the character of the place, but intimately allied 
to the former reason, inasmuch as it was based on religious obligation — the 
foundation of all true morality. 

In order to speak intelligibly on this subject, it is necessary to have the 
facts of this case before us. We were situated alone in the woods; no 
town, or even assemblage of houses, affording accommodation for a dozen 
hands, was within five miles of us. If any contract, therefore, was to be 
made, it must be with a proviso, that the whole number of hands, con- 
tractors, and laborers and mechanics, live on the premises; ai^d, in so 
doing, they must have the control of their own dwellings, and mode of 
living and moral conduct. If they chose to introduce vicious characters — - 
sad examples of debauchery, profaneness and intemperance-^— who could 
prevent it? If you remonstrated, they might reply, that ''they engaged to 
do 7oork, not to reform morals. These men, by performing their tasks, did" 
all that was required of them.". And would r.ot this be inconsistent, not on- 
ly with my personal obligations, but with the very nature of our Institution* 
The hands being numerous,(and sometimes they numbered as high as seven- 
^•) would go a great way in forming the morals of a place, just commencing; 
in the woods. The students, though ever so well and carefully bred at hon»e, 
would be sure to be infected with the poison; and thus the College be 
^eply injured, if not ruined, in its infancy. 

3. Let us now see how things would operate, on the score of economy/. 
In the case of the contracting system being adopted, the contractors and 
their hands, with their families.and servants, must come on to the College 
premises; live in the College buildings; cultivate for their nf cessary ve- 
getables the college grounds; pasture their cows and teams on the Col- 



* No ardent spirits is ever allowed to bo drunk by any person on the Collesfc pre- 
mises. This rWle was established in 1820, before tiie Teraperance Societies v,-ero 
'aTlced ^n 



so-- 

,ege lieHs; use the College wood for faol, anrl for burninsT the College lime 
St'.n ; a.id tie Coh 12; ■ trees, add College mill, for preparing timber to 
fuiiW ihcr own contracts. 

N jw, if tire College were to charge what was, and is no more than 
cu^t )m.iry and reasonable, for all these items, the contractors would b« 
obliged t • do 'n^of these two things; either to raise the price of their work 
to rn'ich mure than it now costs, or be tempted to slight their work. Which^ 
thifikyou, would the co-tractor choose? And, above all, which would be 
the m re economical for the Institution? 

Where, then, is the reasonableness of this objection? It is, according 
to my judgment, on the side of the method which we have, from the begin- 
ning, adopted: which is, having selected those that are sober and moral in 
their deportment, to board and lodge our own hant.s in our own cheaply 
built dwellings; to pay them by the month; to appoint head men to oversee 
the work, and yet work themselves — one to each department — a head 
clerk, head mason, head carpent'^r. and he;id farmer and teamster. These 
all meet evf^ry nia;ht (except Saturdays,) and al'ter having- called every 
man's name in service, and taken an account of all the work done that 
day, by giving every man credit, or curtdling him in his time, according as 
he hath fulfilled, or failed to ulfil, his duty on that day; then to inquire 
and try to supply the wants of the morrow. Having the command of all 
our means, these can be brought to bear on any part, where immediate 
"work or materials are demanded most: and this is the reason why we have 
succeeded in our work, beycnd all expectation. In this way, every man 
knows his duty, from his ''head man'" — and all the "head men" act in con- 
cert — u?ing ail the means of this great establishment to the best effect, in 
accomplishing objects, previously considered and unanimousi}' a,dopted.. 

This scheme and mode of proceeding, though it may sometimes fail of 
giving perfect satisfaction, for want of fidelity, in some newly appointed 
overseer, or the willful carelessness of an artful common hand, yet it is, in 
my humble opinion, the best on the whole that can be adopted. 

As to the plan of getting gre'>t bargains out of workmen, by giving them 
jobs and contracts^ I obj' ct to it, for several reasons. In the first place, it is 
useless, even if we could be base enough to resort to it. If the jobber is 
not a simpleton, (and commonlv our mechanics are by no mearis deficient 
in keenness of wit, where their intcrf^st is concerned,) he will not permit 
you to cheat him, bv obligating himself to do work for less than it is worth.. 
If he make a loxv offe.r^ he w^ll knows how to make it profitalde to himself, 
by '•'slighting the work.'''' He k^ ows the subject on which you are talking-, 
iindyoitdo not, and of this he will Mot fail to ta'<e advantage. 

Besides, the verv attempt to beat a man down, and g^'t (.is work for less 
than its value, is wicked, as well as 'mavcU' g, 

God forbid, that a work, toil )ded in Kis name and dedicated to His Glory, 
should be accomplisi^ed '>v oppre*s!'ff the poor, in gftting their k^bor tor 
less than an equivalent. Wee wf to 'Met o::t a j b." as it is called, and 
the workmen, after beh -ving faithfuUv, cou d make it appear that thej had 
not, at the rate agreed on, nsad' reaso' able w;!gp>, I \^f>u]d hold up botk 
my hands to make good to tiem t' eir los=. And though this might, by some^i 
be counted '•'extravagant., as it were mi«:ipf'lvipe;.''' t!-e hv-ds committed t» 
my charge; yet I would appeal, for the correctness of my conduct^ to th^ 



33 

'sjg'nfceous judgment and generous feelings of all the actual donors to Kenyou 
College. 

But 1 have not done with this suhject. The contracting system^ so much 
cried up by the mechanics themselves, (and no doubt they have their rea- 
sons,) and those who never had the means of judging, is very objectiona- 
ble, in another point of view. It would thtow the profit of th« work into 
the hands of a few^ while the great mass of the loorkmcn would have but a 
scanty portion. For if the work be done low, eacli hand must receive but 
small wages; and out of that, small as it is, the contractor must "ff*< his 
gains.''' 

Now, who that loves the laboring class of his countrymen, not in word 
only, but in deed and in tmih, would wish t© see the sums of money neces- 
sary in the buildings and improvements of this great Institution, spent to 
aggrandize a few; while the children of the poor, tho-^e who do the work, 
g> naked? I for one have always objected to this, and to t'aa adopti y of 
all measures that have a tendency that way: I would rather see it -ai it i- — 
the fair equivalent of the labor distributed among those who bear the 
burden of it; and as a proof of this, behold their famiHes wel! da"' <m1 harpy. 
This is not ideal. Let those who know the state of things, befof-e Ave came 
into this region, compare it with what they see at present. It wotild !iot 
have been thus, had we begun and continued in the contracting system. 
A few would have grown rich; while the working men. however they miglit 
have been beguiled by false promises, and i\\c use of strong drink, to work 
hard for thdr "boss," as he is called, would have found their families but 
poorly fed and thinly clad. 

Thus, dear Sir, have I performed a very painful task; that of rebutting 
the arguments of Mr West and his adherents, against me and (he College. 
I have done it more by facts t'lan by arguments. But there is one thing 
more to do before we have done with this subject; and this is to let you see 
what those think of the slanders of Mr West, who are best able to judge. 
As soon as I received your letter, I took the liberty of copying it, so far as 
related to Mr West's accusations, with my own hand, so many times as to 
send it to all of the Truslees, who had taken an active part in the examina- 
tion of the College accounts; and to the Rev. Mr M'Elroy, till lately, o^v 
Chief Auditor. Their certificates are as follows: 

CERTIFICATE OF THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE. 

We, the undersigned. Trustees of Kenyon College, having received iiir 
formation, through a letter addressed by the Rev. James Milnor, D. D- to 
Bishop Chase, that reports, injurious to the reputation of the latter, in his 
official capacity of President of our Institution, have been put in circulation 
in the City of New York and elsewhere, by the Rev. G. M. West and 
his adherents, feel ourselves bound by a solemn sense of duty, to step for- 
ward in vindication of our venerated Diocesean, and to renew the expres- 
sion of our entire confidence in his integrity, and our full conviction that 
in the management of the concerns of the College, he has been uniformly 
guided by a single eye to the glory of God, and to the prosperity of the 
Institution committed to his charge. 

The principal allegations of Mr West, according to Dr. Milnor's cobo* 

E 






34 

•munication, are — "That moneys contributed for one object, have been 
applied to another; that there has been excessive prodigality of expendi- 
ture;" and that accounts have been so irregularly kept, that no one, the 
Bishop alone excepted, could "know the actual state of tlie Finances of 
the College." 

With regard to the first of these allegations, we may observe, that it is 
possible that moneys, originally contributed for one object, may, in a parti- 
cular case, have been applied to another. We have been informed by the 
Bishop, that a part of the funds subscribed towards the erection of Rosse 
Chapel, was, for a short period, appropriated to the use of the College. 
But we cannot see how this single fact can, with any show of justice, be 
brought forward to support a charge of "misapplication." The prepara- 
tion of the College edifice, for the reception of the students, was a work of 
pressing necessity. To its prompt completion, all the labor that could be 
judiciously employed on the ground, was indispensable. The erection of 
Rosse Chapel, hovvever desirable, could, on the contrary, be dispensed 
with: a Church without a congregation, would have been useless. In a 
complicated establishment, Avhere all the work is executed by one set of 
means, on one domain, and for the promotion of one and the same end — 
the whole being under the actual superintendence of one and the same 
person — the judicious application, for a limited time, towards a laudable 
object, of funds originally designed for another, but which could not then 
be used to advantage, can most assuredly afford no ground for serious ac- 
cusation; and w^e feel confident that, from liability to such a charge, trivial 
and unimportant as it is, {ew men, placed under similar circumstances, 
would have kept more free than Bishop Chase. We may further observe, 
that from documents submitted to our inspection, we have reason to be- 
lieve that the ground for complaint, if it be one, has long since ceased to 
exist: more money having been expended towards the erection of Rosse 
Chapel, and the preparation of materials necessary for its completion, than 
the net proceeds of tlie various benefactions specifically intended for it. 
So much then for this item of "misapplication." 

In relation to the second allegation — "that there has been excessive 
prodigality of expenditure" — in the disbursement for the College, we hesi- 
tate not to say, that, so far as our knowledge extends, it is v/holly destitute 
of foundation. A thorough investigation of all the accounts, which took 
place in September last, and in v/hich we participated, satisfied us, and 
we beHeve every other member of the Board of Trustees, that the pecu- 
niary concerns of the Institution had been conducted with the strictest 
regard to economy; and that the whole of the work, although executed in 
the best manner, had been done on the cheapest possible terms, which the 
nature of the case would admit. 

As it respects the third allegation — that accounts have been so irregular- 
ly kept that no one, except the Bishop, could know the actual state of the 
finances of the College — we must be permitted to observe, that no greater 
difficulty hfis been at any time experienced in our settlements with the 
Bishop, than could have been expected in any extensive establishment, 
where from necessity, and a desire to avoid all unnecessary expense, the 
number o' clerks must h' limited. Beforr the adjournment of the Board, 
^ve^y account was examined, and parefully compared with the vouchers: 



35 

and so far from discovering any thing calculated to shake our confidence 
in the rectitude of our President, we found every where the strorigest 
proofs of his official integrity, and of his entire devotedness to the best 
interests of the Institution. Our sentiments on this point remain un- 
changed ; and we are confident that any imputations on the character of 
the Bishop, in consequence of his connection with the College, must be the 
offspring of misinformation or malevolence, let them come from what quar* 
ter they may. 

The same observation may be applied with still greater force to the in- 
sinuation that the Bishop has appropriated the funds of the Institution to 
his own private en)olument. Every one of his public acts, whether as the 
projector, the agent, the benefactor, or the President of Kenjon College, 
proves that a charge of this kind must be a base calumny. The mortgage of 
his estate to Paul Beck, Esq. of Philadelphia, to secure the payrtient of debts 
incurred for the benefit of the Institution;, his subscriptions to the Milnor 
Professorship; his recent liberal donation of ^^'2,000, besides his valuable 
library of about 1500 volumes; and, above all. his almost unparalleled 
labor-, for which no pecuniary reward could afford an adequate remunera- 
tion — tend to prove that the good of the Church, and the welfare of the 
rising generation, and not considerations of individual ease or private inte- 
rest, have influenced his conduct and given activity to his exertions. 

The mode in which the Bishop's subscription to the Milnor Professorship 
has been liquidated, has been heretofore so fully explained, in official com- 
munications from the Board of Trustees, and the receipt of it so amply 
acknowledged, in the resolution of the Board of the Hth of September 
last, that it looks more like a work of supererogation, than an act of posi- 
tive duty, to recur to it at this time. As Dr. Milnor has, however, men- 
tioned it in his communication, as one of the points in relation to which 
Mr West had charged the Bishop with mismanagement, we avail ourselves 
of this occasion for again stating the facts of the case. 

Bishop Chase advances money out of his private funds, to carry on the 
purposes of the College ; and the Trustees, from time to time, acknowledge 
themselves justly indebted to him. The Bishop, in order to complete the 
Milnor Professorship, subscribes one thousand dollars; but instead of pay- 
ing it to the persons appointed for a time to hold and manage the funds, 
the College assumes the debt created by the subscription of Bishop Chase, 
and the Trustees become obligated to pay faithfully the interest of the 
said sum of one thousand dollars to the Milnor Professor himself, for ever; 
and ibr their obligation thus to do, the Bishop gives the Trustees credit on 
their obligation to him for one thousand dollars. Thus Bishop Chase's 
money, to the amount of sixty dollars per annum, the lawful interest of the 
subscription, helps to support the Milnor Professor; that being the object 
in view: and whether this be by having the Trustees of Kenyon College, 
or the worthy gentlemen selected from St. George's Church, New York, 
perform the good deed, appears to be of but little consequence. 

The report alluded to by Dr. Milnor, that some of the members of the 
Board of Trustees, who concurred in requesting the Bishop to continue his 
agency, did so because the confusion and* complication of the pecuniary 
CO! cerns of the College were such, that no one could be found who would 
•'0 willing to take charge of them in such ^ state, we must beg leave to 



36 

remark, is altogether groundless, so far as we knoM-^ or believe. The ac- 
cou.'its o! the !:''i-;hop had ali oeen examined and approved, and every thing 
copnectel with the Institution had been explained to oar entire satisfaction^ 
w;< en his resignation was received. J^io other motive, therefore, could 
have induced the Board earnestlj to solicit his continuance in the dis- 
ci arge of his arduous duties, than that assigned in their communication — 
their unanimous conviction that he was better qualified than any other 
person, to direct and manage the extensive and complicated concerns of 
the In?tilution; and that the acceptance of his resignation, at that time, 
would endanger its best interests. 'J hey spoke the language of truth and 
sincerity; and could never have imagined that their belief in the peculiar 
adaptation oi the Bishop to the work for Avhich God in his Providence had 
evidejitly fitted him, and their entire confidence in his superior qualifica- 
tions, as well as in his integrity, could ever be converted into an engine of 
assault against his character. 

We may, in conclusion, be permitted to remark, without overstepping 
the bounds of that charity "which hopeth all things," that the assertions of 
the Rev. G. M. West, on any question in which his feelings are interested, 
ought to be received with a great degree of allowance. 'J here has been 
for some years past, as we have learnt, in the hands of a worthy clergyman 
of New York, (Rev. Dr. Wainright) documents seriously affecting his 
character, both as a man and as a minister; and without giving implicit 
credit to all that has been or may be said to his prejudice, the correctness 
of his unsupported assertions, ought at least to be weighed in the balance- 
of probability, before they are admitted to be true. 

JOHN P. BAUSMAN, ) 

JOHN BAILHACHE, f Trustees of 

JOSIAH BARBER, ( Kenyon College.. 

BEZALEEL WELLS. ) 
Columbus, Janwan/ 18, 1831. 

j3 Certificate of the Rev. James M^Elroy, for two years a Chief Auditor of Jlc^ 
counts in Kenyon College. 

"In the autumn of \ 828, 1 joined Bishop Chase, with the view of render«i 
ing him what assistance T could in his disinterested and arduous labors. 

"He signified to me, that it was his intention to lay before the donors to 
Kenyon College, a statement of how their donations had been expended; 
and that it was his wish that I should prepare it. I willingly acceded and 
entered upon an examiriation of all the financial transactions that had ta- 
ken place on his part as agent for the Trustees of Kenyon College. 1 
spent six months in this examination; and on the first of March, 1829^ 
balanced the books of the Institution. 

"To convince every one acquainted with accounts, that Bishop Chase 
or his book keeper, had not been careless in keeping his accounts-/ and 
that the transactions -were regularly recorded: it is only necessary to state 
that the expenditures, as noted. in the books, agreed to a cent with the a- 
mouttt of cash received by Bishop Chase on account of the College, the 
amonntof subscriptions received in produce, and the debts due from the 
College. 



"In the spriRg and summer of 1830, I again spent my leisure hours at the 
booka of tiio Iiistituiioij, and assisted tlie book keeper to bring them up to 
Sepiemb r, of 1830, and found the transactions regularly recorded, much 
to his credit. 

"1 resided two years in Kenjon College; and during this time had free 
access to all Bisiiop Chafe's accounts, and to the store accounts; and I never 
had reason to L'urik, for a moment, that Bishop Chase or his Clerks did not 
pay the most couscienlious attention to them and keep them strictly cor- 
.rect. 

JAMES M'ELROY, 
Minister of Trinitij Churchy Cleavdandy Ohio^"' 

January 22, 1831. 

At the commencement of this letter, I obsierved, that previously to your 
communication, I was aware that Mr West was trying to do me all possible 
injury, but had litUe idea that he had succeeded to so great a degree as 
you said he had done in New York. 

I had reasons for both branches of tliis observation. The correctness of 
the former will be evident from what I am about to relate to you: and that 
of the latter I was assured of from what passed in my own mmd. For if 
all his endeavors to impose on others, had proved as abortive as they were 
on me, th(,'re was not much danger. I might well be still, and let the man 
do his worst. 

Mr VVest had tried what he could do with me by flattering v/ords : he would 
now see what could be effected by fear'; and to make the most of this frail 
passion in our nature, he instituted the followiiiguNDERGAiuK: 

The object of this was to obtain all his wishes by one master stroke of 
policy, viz: To frighten me so unmercifully as to be willing to receive him 
back at once, with all his unabated longings for the Episcopate, to GamLier 
Hill; and without a murmur, put him into the incumbency of Rosse Cha- 
pel, (he once changed the name, by his drafts in England, into "George's 
Church") and settle on him an annuity for life. 

You will say, this is indeed an undergame; pray how did he go to work- 
to effect it? I answer in his own way: and to those who know Mr West, 
as he is known in New Brunswick and Quebec, and on Gambler Hill, this 

mode of speaking is well understood. Mr West persuades good Mr 

and Mr and Mr (I had well nigh named them here, but shall 

In mercy forbear,) that he is a persecuted man, though for u^hat he \s persecu- 
ted, they do not seem willing to consider for a moment. He tells them that 
I had attacked him, being a "stranger in a strange land," with "allega- 
tions:" — but they do not ask whether those allegations were true or false. 
If they had so done, they might have seen that Mr West himself owns them 
true, and justifies and maintains them. 

But to this consideration they are blind. "Mr West had convinced them, 
that he was a persecuted man, whether by allegation«, true or false, they 
do not slop to consider, and they are determined to go all lengths with him. 
Accordingly he, Mr West, makes out for their signature a set of papers {c> 
carry this undergame into full and complete effect. 

These papers were, 

1. A \o\\or to ^dr \\'r'={. a? from (he three, vame/ess gcnileracv.. 



38 

* ^o A letter of Mr West to them. 

3. A letter of the said persons to certain gentlemen who, ttiey all thoughl^ 
would go all lengths with them in IVlount Vernon, Ohio, within live miles of 
the College. I am thus particular for the information of our friends be- 
yond seas. 

And what was the subject matter of these letters? You must know that 
Mr West, "mine enemy," had "written a book" — made up of articles of 
printed documents in praise of himself: for he keeps every scrap of paper of 
this sort by him; and a tissue of false accusations, {they fancy them all true) 
against me. 

This book <hey think of a terrible character; sufficiently so, as to 
frighten me into the performance of whatever Mr West might wish. But 
being professors of religion, they must be made to assume, even by Mr 
West himself, (who evidently dictates to them every word,) the appearance 
of christian forbearance. Accordingly, he represents them as beseeching him 
io forbear and not publish his book, "till the Bishop shall have time to know 
its contents;" stating, that in their opinion, he, Mr West, ought to be mer- 
ciful! 

Mr West then answers; yea, like "the mother of Cicero looking out of 
the window," "Ae returned answers to himself^'' in the following words, ad- 
dressed to Messrs. 

''•Dear Brethren : — 

"I have received your joint letter of the 14th inst. in which you ex- 
press your approbation of the satisfactory nature of my parnphkt reply ^ on the 
painful subject of Bishop Chase's late allegations against me. With be- 
coming christian charity, you, in the same letter, make a joint request of 
me to suspend the publication until you make another effort to bring Bishop 
Chase to a proper sense of the injustice he has done me, and of the dan- 
ger to which he has exposed himself by his late proceedings. 

After maturely weighing the subject of your It tter, 1 have resolved on 
complying with your request; subject, however, to the following under- 
standing, which I hope you will deem sufficiently reasonable : 

1. The Bishop's apology shall be so satisfactory and so public, as will, in 
the estimation of impartial judges, be sufficient to undo the injury which 
his allegations are calculated to inflict on my mind and character. 

2. That all the expenses consequent upon the proceedings, since the 
Bishop's report was delivered, shall be defrayed by him. 

3. That the money collected for the Church in Gambier, shall be re* 
funded and appHed to its intended purpose; the Church completed with 
as little delay as possible; and, agreeably to the understanding with Mr 
Marriott, appropriated for my occupancy, with such reasonable annuity us may 
be mutually agreed on between the Ohio and English Trustees and my- 
self. 

4. That I shall, in the present instance, forward a complete copy of my 
reply, to each of the Arch Bishops in Europe, and the English Trustees, to 
whom the Bishop's allegations against me have been forwarded, merely 
ibr their pri\fate satisfaction, accompanying the same with my compliance, 
agreeablv to your wish of giving no further puhlicity to the subject. Thai 
the remainder be carefully packed np, impressed '.vith ;^'our seals and mhie. 



39 

lodged with an impartial person, who is to dehver them for pubUcation, la 
the event of the Bishop's non compliance with the foregoing. That no more 
delay be allowed on the subject, than is necessary to bring the matter 
fully before the Bishop. 

I am, yours, &c. &c. 
Signed, G. M. WEST. 

Doctor Milnor, you observed that the man who will, by false pretensions, 
have the hardihood to make out and lay before the christian public, a 
claim to the spiritual authority of a Bishop, is ripe for any thing, and will 
do any thing, however arrogant and absurd: I think the above letter of Mr 
West exemplities this remark. 

But he is cunnings as well as arrogant. As an instance of this, in compo- 
sing the letters for the signatures of the three gentlemen in New York, 
when addressing the two supposed confidential friends and agents in Mount 
Vernon, he tells them not to deliver, into my hand, the pamphlet, but read it to 
me: not to come out with all the articles, stated as conditions, on which he 
would consent to suppress the publication of his pamphlet, but break them 
to me, as if coming from them, the spontaneous flow of their own sense of 
justice. Could he have effected this? could he have made them his tools 
in erecting his fabric of ambition in Ohio, how fortunate it would be for 
him! But this they declined. 

When they presented me the pamphlet and the papers; they did it, as 
nearly as I can recollect, to this effect: 

"We have been addressed by certain gentlemen in New York, whose 
names are affixed to the papers which we now put into your hands, and re- 
quested to become t\\e\Y confidential agents, in treating with you on certain 
subjects herein mentioned. We decline that oflfice ; and while we do so, wc 
think it no more than justice to let you knov/ what your enemies are doing. 
You will read what has come into our hands, unasked, through the Posl 
Office; and after reading, you will return them to us, that through the 
same cliannel, we may return them whence they came." 

There are some things so disgusting in nature, that instead of stopping 
even to look at them, the better way is to turn and pass on in silence. I 
never felt the force of this truth, as applied to moral deformity, more forcibly 
than in witnessing the combination oC cunning, arrogance and vanity, cshih'd 
ed in the above named undeugame, attempted to be played upon me, by 
the Rev. G. M. West. — Nothing would have compelled me to expose it to 
public view, but the dire necessity your letter describes. In pity to the 
nameless gentlemen who had been made the tools of Mr West, I inclosed a 
copy of the letters which revealed this undergame to a friend in your city, 
with a hope that by showing them to the said gentlemen, and thus letting 
them see that the Mount Vernon Agents had declined tlic honor of theii 
manoeuvering secrecv, they would open their eyes and see the unhappy con 
dition to which Mr West had reduced them. But alas! I learn from your- 
self and other friends, that there is no appearance of a return to reason, or 
the maxi?Tfis of common prudence. Notwithstanding all the evidence of 
Mr West\^ true character, which has of late poured in from England, Nova 
Scotia, Quebec, and elsewhere; they are still endeavoring, (and you think 
^successfully,) to promote his views. They circulate the pamphlet, though 



4Cf 

m far as 1 know as yet, secretly, notwithstanding they were warned long 
tjince that "//le plot is out.'''' 

And now, dear Doctor, although I consider this letter addressed to yoa, 
as hiiving already answered the main things circulated against me by Mr 
West; yetthere is one thing mentioned in his pamphlet, which, on account 
of its deceptive character, I cannot forbear to notice, as a fair specimen of 
nis adroitness in imposing falsehood for truth, on the minds of our friends', 
'm order to dissuade them from giving us any further help. 

His words are these: — 

"But why should his friends and the public in general be allowed to con- 
tinue under any wrong impression as to the Bishop's real situation? I am 
aware, indeed, that many of the Bishop's best friends and the public, do 
firmly believe that much more money has been obtained for these Institu- 
tions, than was originally said to be necessary for the accomplishment of 
the object; that considering the number of (14-5) students who p?5r, it is 
said, in advance, to the amount of seventy dollars each per annum; the 
present yearly revenue from that source alone, can be little less t'.an at the 
rate of ten thousand dollars per annum; while the College estate of eight 
thousand acres, originally purchased by money raised in En'^la-id, !-■ now 
sutFiciently under cultivation to give an abundant support to all the stu- 
dents and inmates of the College, without much disbursement." 

Then Mr W. goes on to mention the store, the hotel, the nublic stage, 
the Bishop's estate and the Cornish town lots, which we have explained 
before, and the extensive tract of land given by Mrs Reed (500 acres, en- 
tirely in a wild condition,) as affording in Mr West's estimation, great pro- 
fits, and concludes in these words: 

"It appears strange that the Bishop should be in such straitened cir- 
cumstances, unless there has been some strange mtsmana^emen/ to account 
lor the fact." "! „ 

As to the ^strange mismanagement^' I refer you to the report of the Trustees, 

The avowed object of the above paragraph, is to persuade the friends 
0f Kenyon College that the Institution has already a sufficient income ; and 
that there is no farther necessity of Donations. 

To affect this object, Mr West states that the College has "a yearly 
revenue oUen thousand dollars per annum:'''' qnd lest there siiould be a doubt 
remaining as to the correctness of this assertion on the mind, for want of 
specification, he further states, it is '■^frorn one source a lone:,''' and that is "the 
advance pay'' of the students, "at the rate of seventy dollars per annum." 
Here he leaves the subject; and the world, he thinks is, from this state- 
nent, to sit down assured that Kenyon College, from one source alone, h 
in possession o^ ti yearly revenue of ten thousand dolbn's! If this were true, 
the chief cause of my present wretchedness would be removed, and my. 
lamentation wou'J be turned to joy. But, alasl I am compelled by the 
stern power of truth to state, that Mr West's assertion is so far from the 
fact, that what he calls a revenue, is actually a source of expense to the 
College. In other v/ords, instead of gaining any thing by the payment 
from the students though in advance, the Institution is a loser by them. 
The price ofprovisions, as I have already stated, is much higher now, than 
when we set those prices; and upIos^; cnv orisi"a1 plan be completed, of 
Kusing more of our articles of consumption Irom our own domain, the Col- 



41 

lege wiil be ruined; notwithstanding the ^'•yearl^ revenue of ten tkoumnd 
dollars,'''' set forth ia sucii round numbers by Mr vVest. 

What a deception there is in Mr vVest's use ot the word Revenue! Ac- 
cording to connmon acceptation, it means ''a net inome or annuil profits^ 
receivtd from lands or other fun /s." It was never before now, to my remem- 
brance, appUed to receipts for equivilents given out in board, lodging, 
lights and tuition of students. If it were, some institutions would awe a 
revenue indeed! e. g. Yale College, in Connecticut, has, if you inclule 
law, divinity and medical pupils, upwirds of 300 students. Now, suppo- 
sing that they board in College in commo^i, as do the students at Kenyon, 
their payments annually, which I am told for all the expenses charged in 
our bills, would amount to 300 dollars each, being multiplied by tneir 
number, 500, would amount to 150,0)0 dollars. Now, what man in his 
seiises will say this is the "yearly revenue" of Yale College? And yet, 
Mr West has'said it with a view to injure us; and certain nameless gen- 
tlemen have given their sanction to it without a blush. 

After what has appeared, showing the true character of Mr West, I 
cannot say 1 am surpi'ised at the contents of the extract I have, as a^ove, 
made from his pamphlet. But what shall we say of his aduerents? Tney 
are men of probity; yet we behold them so far led astray by tJiis man, as 
to encourage him, and give their '^^imnromptu,^'' their zorittea .ia-idivn to print, 
with their names prefixed in capital letters, a book containing this gross per- 
version of the plainest words in our laiguage, ralcul ited to produce nfi'se 
impression on the public mind; an impression, which, if deep and permanent, 
is the most etfectual way to ruin our benevolent Institution. This is a 
matter of great astonishment, not only with me, but with all wnokaow 
their professions of piety: for surely they never learned this conduct from 
their Bibles. They have called on me, through the two geatlem m in 
Mount Vernon, to make concessions to Mr West, bv a public confession^ for 
supposed iniaries done to him. These supposed injuries, are now found to 
be but instances of the discharge of my duty, in making that public which 
Mr West does not deny, but justifies. 

Let me now, according to mine office, speak a few words to them. The 
ttcxt time you approach the Lord's Table, "before you presume to eat of 
that bread and drink of that cup," hear what the Lord saith concerning 
those who inflict real injuries on others: 

"When thou bringest thv gift to the altar, and rememberest thy brother 
hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift, and go, be reconciled to thy 
brother; and then come and offer thy gift." 

Remember, that the injury inflicted by your sanction to Mr West's 
statement, though intended for we, (and so far as it is such, I would freely 
forgive,) actually falls on others; the thousands and the tens of thousands, 
in the present and the coming age, who, if this mode of proceeding suc- 
ceed, by destroying the hopes of Kenyon College at this critical period, 
will be deprived of the benefit of a christian education. 

These have cause of complaint for this great injury; and unless you be 
reconciled speedily to them by a candid and open confession, in a hearty 
recall of: yom plighted sanction to Mr West, and his false statement as above, 
and throughout his printed book, the Lord forbids you "t9 tagt© of bis sugi^ 
I>/5r." 

V 



42 

Mr Weet sajs further, in this extraordinary tissue of misreprasentationsr^ 
that the College estate of 8()00 acres, is now sufficiently under cultivation 
to supply all the College students and innnates with provisions. Now, Mr 
West had recently been on the College premises, and had the evidence of 
his senses that this is not the case ; and one of the gentlemen who supports 
him in this assertion had the same evidence. Look, dear -Doctor, to the 
statistical account of our farms, and judge for yourself, if this be not a mis- 
representation of the truth. Not more than one twelfth part of the 8000 
acres is under cultivation, imperfect as that state of cultivation is; and in- 
stead of its giving an abundant "support to all the students and inmates 
of the College, without much disbursement," I will repeat, the statement 
of cash paid for provision for our family, besides the income of the farms, 
within one year, viz: between January 1, 1830, and January 1, 1831, the 
College books show that we paid out for extra pro visions, ^ze ^Aomanrfanc? 
eighty dollars fourteen and a half cents. 

If this be ^revemie^'' it is on the wrong side: a few years more such 
would ruin us. Unless we obtain assistance to clear off our lands and stock 
them w^ith cows and fatlings, the whole establishment will sink. But more 
of this at the close. 

At present, I shall revert to the first part of Mr West's ca;/rac«, above quo 
ted, from his pamphlet, which is countersigned by his "arfAeren^s." 

He mentions the "best friends of Bishop Chase." Who are they? Are 
tbey real or false friends? If they be such as have sanctioned Mr West's 
book, the question, I think, is already answered. From the support of such 
friends, I pray I may be delivered. It is not true that this Institution has 
already received what, from the beginning, she has stated as necessary t® 
accomplish her great designs. Was it not always said, give us our build- 
ings, (those buildings which all Colleges have been supposed entitled to at 
public expense,) and under Providence we will pledge ourselves to give you 
the means of education cheaper, by three hundred per cent., than it can be 
afforded in the Atlantic States; and have the qtieans to erect these ever 
been, even to the one third, afforded us? 

Is our disappointment, in our reasonable expectation of assistance from 
Congress, forgotten? Not by me, who saw and still see the sad effects of our 
lailure there. To keep us from despair, we solicited private donations; 
and by the great liberality of our friends, our immediate wants were par- 
tially supplied. We went on: But how? In the way already mentioned, 
hy -pledging all that we had of private means, to keep up our credit and pay 
off our hands. 

Our Centre Building, the Mills, the (jlambier Houses, &c. &c. as herein 
mentioned, were the result. Instead of having done too little, the astonish- 
ment seldom failed to be expressed, that considering the means granted us, 
We had accomplished so much. For the truth of this remark, I appeal to 
ail, who, when here, had the curiosity to make the slightest e^iamination. 

And are we now, because we have faithfully improved the one talent, to 
be reproved for neglecting the ten, which we never received? Are Egyp- 
tian task masters placed over us, to require bricks without straw; the ac= 
comphshmcnt of the end without having been supplied with'the means? 
Besides all this, there is something p' ruliarly afflictive, that these unwor- 
thy and unfounded insinuations are brought forward by Mr West and his 



43 

adherents, just at this critical juncture. When we were about to lay q\xv 
wants before the public eye, and urge the necessities of the, present < lisis 
as a reason, (and we thought it a convincing one,) why we should be blessed 
v/lih further assistance from a generous public, it is indeed afflictive, td meet 
with Mr West, the man who, for so long a period, has encouraged us, but 
to disappoint; and as appears from most indubitable evidence, lately re^ 
ceived, has stood so long between us aid a full tide of British benevolence 5 
to meet with this man, (O! if the puMic knew what mortification I have 
suffered on his account!) is indeed afflictive. To meet with the Rev. G, 
M. West — not only the self acknowledged aspirant for Episcopacy, but th«? 
fearless claimant of the mitre! — Vea, the undaunted, inflexible assertet 
that he is a Bishop already — when I know, and hereby declare, that all his 
pretensions, founded on what I ever said, did or thought, towards making 
him a Bishop, are without the least foundation in fact or truth ; to meet with 
this man standing with an unblushing front, supported with the three namfr* 
less gentlemen and their secret friends, in opposition to our College, and 
to prevent all further donations to it at this critical period, is peculiarly 
afflictive. But I forbear. 

Ft is now time this letter was brought to a close; and yet 1 experience no 
small degree of embarrassment in so doing, by reason of the acuteness of 
my feelings. 

I would take leave of Mr West and his "ac^Aeren^s," as if I were to meet 
them no more, till the great day ; and while I do so, would ask the grade of a 
forgiving disposition, for the injuries they have done me and the College^ 
©f that Being who, for Christ's sake,l hope, hath forgiven me: Yes, how- 
ever painful the wounds they have inflicted on this child of christian bene- 
ficence, and however still more painful it has been, to witness the disposi- 
tion in others nearer home, to seize this occasion, to Jlnd fault with my plans^ 
and to refuse their support to me umhrthis unjust attack; 1 do not only forgive 
them, but feel heartily disposed, even should things come to extremities, tc 
extenuate the injuries they inflict. It may be better for me, than they ima- 
gine. For, if they have, either through a desire to curtail what some of 
them have called, the too great power given by our Constitution and Ca- 
nons to the American Bishops; or through envy of my imaginary enjoy- 
ments, had a longing desire, of which the present effort seems to be a grati- 
fication, Wo put me downf^ 1 would inform them, that they might have 
spared themselves the trouble: for / am dozon already. Both myself and 
family are literally ''^servants of all for ChrisCs sakcf dwelling under ground 
in the basement story of the College, exercising no more authority, tha» 
what parental tenderness requires. Do they wish to take from me silver or 
gold? This they cannot do: for I have none. Is the enjoyment of houses and 
lands, the object of their envy? Alas! these have gone from me bog since, 
with all the means of redemption. 

Do they wish by v)hisperivg their suspicions of the words which tliey ii.- 
fuse to explain, "fix/wijf^/g'onrf" and ^'•prodigaUtys'' to disgrace me in the eyes 
of the Diocese, so tha< my people withhold from me that support, which 
the Canons contemplate. Let the public know, through them, that even 
this will not injure me, to the extent of my travehng expenses. Do they 
expect, by coming out at this c-.tiral p( iod, to push me from my station, as 
President of Keny on College? Poor indeed will b-^ their triumph. If t|^ 



(gstlniate of their fault, be taken from the actual injury they will do me, I 
acquit them oi blame. Little do they know, with what pleasure I wouldj 
(if it were my duty,) quit my present station: a station which, from the mo- 
mtnt I first entered on it, hath filled my head with care, and my heart with 
pain,- — has bowed down my body with labour, and detracted from the en- 
joyment and embellishment of my mind, by depriving me of all study; a 
station, to fulfil the duties of which, I have bartered my food by day, and 
my sleep by night. Surely, by taking me from this, will not be '''•putting 
me downy as to worldly comlbrt. Lvery step my enemies take to this end, 
will elevate me lar beyond iheir expectations. Little do they know with 
what comparative pleasure, (if it were for the good of the College.) 1 would 
once more retire into the deep forest, and there, by the remaining strength 
whicb God in mercy still allows to linger in my aged and shattered arntL, 
fell the trees artd draw my sustenance from the bosom of my mother Earth. 
She would ret envy, betray \ ov reproach me. I do not say these things, I 
trust, t* rough a restive and discontented spirit: on the contrary, they are 
the spontaneous eflfusions of a mii d, which, while it submits to God's will, 
in the chastise!' en t,/moti;e?A"'5?/ zchom the offence Cometh^ 

And here I will express, what, after a due and laithful consultation with 
my iamily,Ihave reserved for a separate remark. 

We feel submissive, though we hope we are entitled to the privilege and 
benefit of prayer. 

Let our College succeed, and then, whether by staying or by being barf-- 
ished from it,bot[: myself and family promise to be the willing sacrifice* 
But spaif me, O JBiavenly Father, the unutterable anguish of two evils ai 
once- — MY FAMILY REDUCED TO FENVRY, ancriienyon College in ruins! 

Whether the evil here deprecated, come to psss or not, will depend oft 
the blessing wbich may attend this last pubhcation, to save our sinking 
College. Should this little book, and the unvarnished statements it con- 
taii'p. conmend our cause to the affectionate regard of those who love to 
do well; if God permit me still to find favor in the eyes of my former 
friends, this very fact will accomplish ail we wish: for so numerous are 
they, even from the highest to the lowest in the christian family, that should 
each one send to me, without delay, the smallest trifle of bounty his heart 
could jinme, our plan, in all its glorious features, would be accomplished. 
The Wir:gs of our College would be built, our lands would be cleared, and 
our Institution enabled to aflfbrd the means of learning, for half what the 
world ever witnessed. Thus the very cause of our present distress and 
sufR?rings, would prove but the pathway to final success; the wrath of man 
should be made to praise the Lord; every pang a blessing; and every tear 
a ibuntaln of joy. 

On the contrary, if, while I have been at work in building up, the open 
and secret enemy has not been idle in pulling down, the walls of Kenyon 
College. — if the public mind has become alienated from me, by reason of 
unfounded and unworthy insinuations — if to the disappointment I expe- 
rienced from worldly minded jsoliticiars in Congress, there must now be 
added forme to suffer, the disappoirfment of my expectations of support 
from the christian family. — if persons in high stations turn their faces from 
ire, and the pious of all degrees say unto me, go, for your College has al- 
mady enough — let the child take care of itself, before it is even grown te 



jfouth: then, indeed, have 1 done; my labor is ended; my day of toll fof- 
Kenyon Colic?:*.' is over, and the night of rest is come. The busy scene? 
ion Gambier Hill; the work* of faith, love and piety for the benefit of 
Kenyon College, are cut short; the little army of students, their country's 
hope, and the Church's joy, are sjone, and in their places reign silence and 
despair. Our fine domain, the iast retreat of virtue, in hor endeavors to 
educate youth, in seclusion from the vices of the world, forfeited for debts, 
and sold piece-meal by the unfeeling creditors ; our buildings turned into 
scenes of intempernnce; and our College a heap of rubbish. 

The picture of such a state of things, even in imagination, is so painful 
to me, that 1 feel a constraining sense of duty, even at the hazard of being 
censured for importunity, to plead for a few words more of intercession, 
before I quit the subiectin despair. Like Abraham interceding with the 
Destroying Angel, T would sav, "O! let not the Lord be angry, and I will 
speak this once/' And to whom shall T speak? To them, surely, whom it 
concerns, more than all others, to hear: the Bishops of our Church. 

You are by constitution, c infirmed by civil charter, the Visitors of our 
College. When it errs, you are to bring it back to the path of duty ; and 
when it prospers, to vou it looks for words of commendation. Its honor is 
your honor; and its future destiny is interwoven like web and woof, with 
the venerable names of those whom I am now addressing. 

Will not, then, an Institution, thus in alliance with our most excellent 
characters, and with the best interest of our Church and country — an In- 
stitution possessing, by reason of its peculiar nature and situation, more 
means of doing good on a ^reat scnle in this western country, than all 
others put within your reach — an Institution now struggling with difficul- 
ties, arising solely from its own magnitude, and the peculiar crisis of its 
affairs — an Institution now suddenly attacked by a second Korah, vain and 
sacrilegious in the extreme, from whom we have suffered much, and still 
must suffer more — will not our Intitution, thus situated, command your 
sympathies? 

Bear in mind that Kenyon College is the ofTsprilig of a public Provi'- 
dence, and as such, should receive the support of public men. A child of 
the a£;e of beneficence, in which God hath cast our lot, and adopted into 
the family of the Episcopal Church in particular, it has a rightful claim on 
the Bishops themselves for supportmg patronage. From its birth to the 
present moment, the eyes of the christian public have been fixed r>n it ; and 
those who have charge of its tender infancy have not b<>en unnoticed: and 
should it expire untimely, the event will be proclaimed by a shriek of an- 
guish^ wherever the love of truth and piety has ex.tended. 

In thus urgins: our claims, to the attention of the Episcopal Church in 
particular, we do not relinquish those which we have on the christian com- 
munity at large. What is pequliarly the duty of the Episcopal Church on 
some grounds of consideration, may be no less binding, for other reasons, 
on the consciences of others. All christians in our country are, at this 
moment, fighting a battle with the enemies of God and all goodness; and it: 
would be well for fhem, so far to make friends of this mammon of un- 
jighteousncss, as to learn wisdom from their example. 

These enemies join their forces, or spparntc, as seems best for their com- 
«ion purpose. If one is attacked, the rest think it for their common inter- 



46- 

est to come to bis support; and this happens to amuch greater extent, than 
christians have been, till of late, aware of. it is astonishing to sec bow- 
all kinds of evil unite in withstanding the benevolent Institutions of the 
present day; and I could not but feel pecuharly gratified in seeing this 
subject so ably handled as in the closing report of the Prudential Commit- 
tee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, read by 
the Corresponding Secretary, Jeremiah Everts, Esq. at the late annual 
meeting, Boston. 

He there said: — 

"While the power of united effort has been proved, by numerous and 
successful labors for the accomplishment of good, a most marvellous ten- 
dency has been observed in all sorts of evil to coalesce, for the purpose 
of resisting truth, in all its benign and holy influences. The most hetero- 
geneous materials have been used by the God of this world, in the erection 
of fortifications for the defence of his empire. The opposition to the Gos- 
pel is lively, strenuous and malignant; and shows itself against every at- 
tempt to enlarge the limits of the church, and to bring new motives and 
new hopes to the minds of Pagans, Among all the remiarkable sights, 
which the men of this generation have beheld, there is nothing more won- 
derful, than the ease and rapidity with which those forms of wickedness, 
which have been usually found discordant, have lately been assccialed 
together, and on terms of the greatest intimacy, Tbup popery and infidel- 
ity—the most abject superstition and the most undisguised blasphemy — 
stand ready to aid each other, and to engage openly and violenth, in the 
contest with true religion. All the ingredients of malevolence and impiety 
range themselves against God and his church, with a precision at least 
equal to that, which is observed in chemical afiinities. No sooner does an 
enemy of the truth hoist his colors, than all other enemies of the truth^ 
though fighting under different banners, cheer him, as if by a sympathy 
mot less quick and unerring, than a natural instinct. So prompt and dis- 
criminating a union of discordant elements marks a new era in the moral 
administration of the world " 

Of all the enemies thus combining, there are none more formidable in 
this western country than ignorance and vice. These united, all denomi- 
nations, as obstructions before the car of Juggernaut, must be crushed in 
their march. To resist effectually this combined evil, Bishop White, in his 
three letters, so justly celebrated, to the American Quarterly Review, on 
the right use of the Lord's day, gives us t^e following advice:— "7o this 
evil, the only remedy will be in the efforts of all denominations to carry religious- 
instruction to every corner of the land.'''' 

Emboldened by the christian liberality manifested in these extracts, I 
desire, before closing this my letter, to occupy a more elevated stand, from 
which I would address myself to the wise and liberal of all denominations 
in Ohio, in the United States, and in the Protestant world. 

As a foundation of this my appeal, I beg leave to exhibit 

..^summary of facts and elementary principles of our Institution^ by way of 

question and answer, 

X. QneMion: What was the original design of Kenyon College]'., 



47 

Answer: To bring the rate of expense of a public education down so low 
.as to be attiiaable by p.ir>ons i i n > lerate circu nsta ices, such as are the 
great mass of people in tiie -V 'stern Country, who, as it now is, do not turn 
out annually a man of a liberal educatio!>, in proportion as one is to thirty 
thousand. 

2. Question: Whatis required to do this? 

4'iswer: Adequate means: that is to say, an Establishment combininL'; 
the benefits of 

1, Lands, 

2, Buildin?,s, 

3, Agricul ure and grazing. 

4, Mecha lical arts. 

So far as (he consumption of the College and all concerned in its operations^ 
might require. 

3. Onestion: Have you obtained these means? 

Answer: We have obtained them in part. A large tract of land was 
purchased, and paid for by meins sent us from our friends in England. 
Our own country, most liberally, have given us, by way of private subscrip- 
tion, suriicient partially to accomplish our object in the erection of our 
Centre Building and making some necessary improvements on our lands: 
but the chief source from which we looked for assistance, with reasonable 
confidence, was the Public Government. If they had refused to give to 
other Colleges of an expensive character, it was hoped that they would 
do something for us here^ where learning, the very pillar of all Republics, 
was oifered to the people on che tper terms than was ever thought of before. 
But failing in our application to Congress, we turned to private munificence- 
and found ourselves, as we stated, partiilly supplie.d; but a supply by no 
means adequate to our gre^it design. The College building is not one 
fourth completed. Its centre or connecting part to the letter H, which the 
original draft exhibits, is the only part erected. This is 1 10 by 44. and 4 
stories high. The wings are yet to l)e built. 

4. Question: What number of Stu^lents have you? 
Answer: At present upwards of 150. 

5. Question: What means have you for accommodating so many 'il 
Answer: The Centre Building of the College and three houses in Gan»- 

bicr village. 

G. Question: H 've yoii not been trying to erect another building, to ac- 
commodate the Grammar School and Scholars? 

An'^nier: Yes: but I regret to say, that it is of wood and of course perisha-r 
ble in its nature, and unworthy of so great and permanent establishment. 
It is, however, substantially built, and will answer for the accommodation 
of 60 or 80 more Students; being 74 feet long, by 40 feet wide, part of it 
3 stories high. 

7. Question: Had you more room for accommodation, are you morally 
assured, you could increase your number of pupils to any great extent? 

Answer: I have reason to think so; for manv applicants are now keeping 
back for want of room, and some who have actually come, have been obli- 
ged to return disappointed. 

8. Question: Are the means to make further accommo latioin, in perma^ 
neiU buildings, the chief object of your desires atpreseat? 



7 Anstoer: Ye«. Had we our wings, the plan could go into full operattonr 
at present it is in embryo; having little pt^wer to manifest its excellencies- 

9. Question: What proportion of your land, 8000 acres, is in a state of 
cultivation and pasturage? 

AnszLrer: About one-twelfth. 

iO. Question: Does the produce of that supply your family? 

Anmer: No. Had we, however, a proportionable quantity of it in good 
grass, and a sufficient quantity of young cattle and of fatliugs, it might af- 
ford ^ne-Aa// of the provisions which our present family consumes. 

11. Question: Suppose you had buildings erected to your mind, so as to 
accommodate your original number of Students, 500 or 600, what quantity 
of ground would be necessary, to be under cultivation and pasturage, to 
enal)ie you to keep tlie Students at the reduced rates of expense at which 
you now keep them? 

Answer: About two thousand. 

12. Question: Have you that quantity of good bottom land on the south 
section of the College lands? 

Ansroer: If you add the rich glens to the river bottoms, there is more 
than that quantity? 

1 3. Question : What is the remainder of your south section of 4000 acres, 
as to quality? 

Answer: Oak and Chesnut grounds, interspersed with various kinds of 
firewood, which ought to be reserved for timber, for fencing and fuel for the 
College, forever. 

14. Question : Why don't you sell the north section, to get means to go on 
with your great plans? 

Answer: Because we cannot do it without a sacrifice: so much land is 
opened for sale by Congress, at almost no price, that all wild lands are much 
below their real value; and these belonging to the College, are peculiarly so. 

The C<.llege now is struggling for existence. If it fail, the lands on the 
north section will have no more value than as if that Institution had never 
existed. We are convinced, at all events, they are worth more to the Col- 
lege than we can get for them; and therefore, think ourselves bound to 
retain them. By the laws of Ohio, we hold them free from taxes; and should 
God permit the Institution to surmount her present ditficulties, without ber 
ing obliged to sacrifice them, they might some of them be put into farmSj 
and some constitute a fund for timber and for fuel for the College, at some 
futureday, of immense value. Posterity will have great reason to bless 
God, for putting us under the necessity of withholding our hand from sa- 
eriticing the College north section. 

15. Questioi}: To what amount of provisions have you purchased within 
a year for the consunaption of the College establishment, exclusive of what 
was raised on the College lands? 

Answer: ^50^0 14^. 

16. Question: Are the prices the same as when you first published youf 
lerms ? 

Ansioer: No. Every thing was then much lower than at present. 
Wheat was 25, it is now 50 cents per bushel, 
Indian Corn was 10, it is now 25 do, do. 
Fork was 1 i , it is now 3 cents per pounds 



49 

17. Question : Why don't you raise your terms in proportion to the rise of 
provision ? 

Ansioer: We should think ourselves perfectly justifiable in doing so, hav- 
ing hinted the possibility of such a state of things from the beginning. 

But our Institution, not having been founded for the purpose oi money 
getting^ but for that of doing good to the less wealthy class of society: and 
being morally certain that we can maintain the Students at the present prices, 
whenever our lands shall have been cleared and fenced^ and our buildings 
erected; it seems to us an object worthy of eur greatest effort to get 
money to go on without being obliged to raise our terms. It will be 
discouraging to the wishes of thousands, to see, by any fluctuation in 
our friends, that there is even ti possibility of their failing to o'^tiin the 
object of their fondest hopes. Many a young man, now laboring tor bun- 
aelf, to get his owa education, and many parents now laying by their little 
earnings, for their sons' education at Kenyo-i College, si.nply because it is 
the cheapest in the worlds will mourn, and perhaps utterly despair, at being 
told that our prices are raised. 

Our country has seen enough of literary institutions, as if on a principle 
of money getting, established in towns and villages, replete with charac- 
ters whose business it is to decoy youth into unnecessary expense, and 
through mercenary principles to minister to their vices. Let us for one 
trial, have something else; an Institution founded and conducte I on be- 
nevolent principles, and situated aloof from the temptations of the world; 
and wherein, if any thing be sold to the Students, the very gains, from a 
wholesale to a retail price, may enable the College to dimini-fh the pu- 
pils' expenses. 

Having made the experiment, and found it both excellent and practica- 
ble, why should it not be completed? Tiiere is no reason to give for aban- 
doning it. Not to goon, in the accomplishme it of so great a design, will 
add disgrace to criminality, for which, both Ohio, t'le United States, and 
the Protctant world, will have cause for sincere compunction. 

This is no fiction. However insignificant the instrument, it is, never- 
theless, a truth, that few things, in the present age, have obtained more 
extensive circulation, among the wise and benevolent, than t le design and 
operations of Kenyon College. Who, therefore, is willing to bear the 
wei^^ht of responsibility which its failure must occasio-? 

B;^fore so insupportable a load rest on me, let my feeble voice be 
heard in my own defence: let the contents of this book, more worthy of at- 
tention for the facts than the talents, for the truth than the ingenuity whiih 
it displays, be examined with patience: let me be tried by my peers, tho-e 
who are capable of judging in so greatand important matters, by I'orst 
as well as judicious mei; and if I be found guilty, I am willing the shane 
should be on me, and me alone; and should I sink to rise no more in the es« 
timadon of men, I an willing In the other case, should I be acquitted, 
and still be doomed to suffer disappointment; should this Institution, not- 
withstanding all its acknowledged qualities of unexampled usefulness, its 
practicability and the honesty and judgme t which have attended its pro- 
gress, be suffered to fail for want of that support which its importance de- 
mands, and which reason yields, who then, willingly, would occupv the 
place of responsibility? Will the Stat^ )f Ohio willingly do this? Let the 



inhabitants remember^ they have much to answer for to posterity, to say 
nothing of another world, for the great folly of letting such an In^itution as 
Kenyon College perish, without an effort to save it. For what, let me ask? 
is any country more to be regarded than for its Institutions oi learning and 
benevolence? And if these be not only extensive in their character, descen- 
ding to multitudes, never visited with the like privileges before, but perma- 
nent in the establishment, exhibiting buildings, even in the woods, which 
would do credit to the older settlements, and yet are suffered to fail for the 
want of means^ the weight of responsibility is greatly enhanced. This 
observation applies with pecuUar force to the case of Kenyon College, con- 
sidered in the light of both an useful and ornamental privilege, granted 
by the hand of a merciful Providence to the State in which it is situated. 
If there is an object, which has attracted the attention of the Christian 
world to Ohio, it is that of Kenyon College. If there is= one thing which, 
more than any other, hath caused the name of Ohio to spread far and wide, 
so as to attract the wealthy and industrious of other nations to her bosom, 
it is the name of this Benevolent Institution. And will not the responsi- 
bility be too great for her to bear, were she now to withhold that aid, which 
interest^ as well as reason and duty, demand at her hands? 

I do not now speak of the responsibility of this State in her legislative 
capacity. The Treasury I know is exhausted by other efforts of doing 
good: but I speak of the people of this State, individually, as single citi- 
zens, capable of seeing the truth, and feeling a personal interest i the 
"State in which they dwell. 

What gratification will it be to them, as such, to see me failing in the 
attainments of my objects? Suppose that, for want of timely aid, the Colle';e 
goes down, and I go with it? — My manifold imperfections, aggravated by 
the tongue of slander, may cause a momentary fit of joy, that an unworthy 
man hath fallen: and no one, in view of meeting a righteous Judge, feels 
more unworthy than myself; but v/hen time, like the passing wind, si>all 
have long since blown the remembrance of my faults away, and the naked 
walls of Kenyon College appear to view, telling the sad story of its un- 
timely and undeserved fate, will there be no feelings of compunction? 

Suppose that your descendants, the future inhabitants of Ohio, shi^ll 
visit the northwest corner room in the basement story of Kenyon College, 
where I am now writing this, and after witnessing the durable^ but deserted 
walls, shall pass out into the lone grave yard of Rosse Chapel, and inquire 
for my unnoticed grave; will it afford him a subject of comfortable reflec- 
tion to be told, that, for want of a little timely aid from the hand of his own 
ancestors, the College had failed, and that the man who sleeps there, died 
a victim to their penuriousness. 

I know not how such a subject affects you. The chilling influence of 
sectarianism, because every thing, as it respects religious denominations, 
does not suit your views, or of village patriotism, which teaches you to 
regard with jealousy or indifference, every improvement that is not within 
the reach of your town or dwelling, may have frozen your heart into 
a kind of moral insensibility, so that you cannot be affected at a subject 
like this; but for one that is desirous that good should be done to our 
common countfy, and to our common loved Christianity, and to the inter- 
'^.sts of pure religion, regardless of the denomination that performs it, is the 



subject deeply affecting; and a due consideration thereof will, it is hoped, 
lead to favorable and beneiicial results. 

But, as I observed, Ohio is not the only portion of our country interested 
in the iate of Kenyon College. The whole United States are bound to 
sympathize in her sufferings and promote her welfare. Europe holds 
America Fesponsible for the safe keeping, the prosperity or adversity of 
this Institution. This expression may seem to be taking high ground ; but 
it is no higher than truth can maintain. Whatever America may have 
done, to attract the attention of Europe, the subject of Kenyon College has 
seldom failed to add the feelings of tenderness to those of respect, and to 
mingle the sweets of christian charity in the cup of national intercourse. 
So true is this remark, that I feel a thrill of delightful consciousness in my 
soul in making it, which is difficult to express. And just in proportion as 
this sentiment is exquisite, is my confidence unshaken, that after all the 
difficulties which we have suffered, or may suffer, one thing is true; that if 
America do not help me to carry on and accomplish the plan of Kenyon 
College, Protestant Europe will. 

But why not continue to unite in a work like this? Why cease to pur- 
sue a path, which hitherto hath led to the enjoyment of so mu<h good 
feeling between the two nations? A path which had its commencement in 
an holy emulation to benefit the rising generations of the western coun- 
tries. The great argument which influenced our English friends to open 
their hand of beneficence so wide, and give so liberally, was this one pre- 
dominant truth, viz: that so great a proportion of the persons whose wants 
were to be supplied with the means of religion and learnmg, were actually 
British born subjects, and their immediate children. In the hearts of great 
and good men, the motives derived from a jealous political policy seldom 
enter; and instead of regarding these emigrants from Britain as having 
transferred their demands for assistance in difficulty entirely to America, 
they were still viewed with tenderness by their mother country: and when 
it was made clear, that in settling a new world, there was too much to do 
to leave time or means to found institutions of learning necessary to perpe- 
tuate civili25ed life; and consequently that there was great danger of their 
countrymen losing their moral and religious character; the benevolent step- 
ped forward, and freely gave the needful boon. Prompted by such goodness, 
our own country gave also; and how happy the result! Twice and three 
times blessed, was such an instance of christian union. The mingling^ of 
these waters of benevolence, did indeed overflow and fertilize our moral 
soil; and the fruits of holiness already begin to appear. Of this, let all 
who know what is now transpiring, and witness the extensive influence of 
this Institution in doing good, judge what I say. And shall all this be 
blighted by the breath of slander? Shall this rose in the wilderness be 
nipp d in the bud? And shall none hereafter partake of its fragrance? 
We hope otherwise. For the honor of the christian family, and for the 
good of millions of souls, we hope that wherever the peculiarities of this 
ease shall be known, every man will find himself inclined to do something, 
and that soon, to keep us from despair. Be the sum never so trifling, 
what a blessing will be the aggregate! 

I am ;oo old, and by reason of my labors and reeent bodily accidents, 
tpo infirm, to make many more excursions from my own diocese to solicit 



5S 

funiis in person* I shall henceforward remain at home; and, taking my stand 
Oil the spot njiotted for my grave, and in view of the great day beyond it, 
that soon awaits me, humbly, yet firmly, assert my integrity for the past, 
and implore aid for the future. 

Every person w!io reads these lines, whether in America, Europe or 
Christendom, is most earnestly entreated to send to me some token, how- 
ever small, as a hearry "God speed" to our cause — some means whereby, 
before I die, f may be enabled to finish Hke work which God hath given me 
to ■■ ■'. 

Ti ufs T have finished my letter; and, entreating your forgiveness for the 
liber^v I have taken with your name and letter, 

I am, Dear Dr, Milnor, your faithful friend and servant, 

PHILANDER CHASE. 

Kenton Colkffe^ nth Feb* 183i« 



iLPPHi^rDz:^. 



[Prom the British Colonist, and N, B, Commercial Reporter.] 

Mr Hooper — 

Sir: At a meeting of the Trustees of the Asylum Chapel, duly cog. 
vened, it zoas resolved^ unanimnusli/^ to transmit the following document to 
G. W. Marriott, h^sq., B. C. L., in London, for the inspection of the friends 
of the Rev. G. M. West; and in order to insure publicity, they request 
you to insert the same in the British Colonist. 
Signed on behalf of the Trustees, 

THOMAS BALDWIN, Secretary, 
Saint John, May^ 1830, 



To the Rev, Benjamin Gerrish Gray, Rector of Trinity Church, Saint John, 

JYew Brunsroick, 

Sir: The Trustees of the Asylum Chapel in Saint John, having seen in 
a letter from George Wharton Marriott, Esq., B. < '. L., an intimation 
which they believe to be in the hand-writing of the Rev. George Montgo- 
mery West, late Pastor of said Chapel, stating that he would submit to an 
arbitration in London, as touching the difference between him and his 
friends in Saint John; respecting which, the Trustees have only to saj^, 
they decline any arbitration or other negotiation with Mr West, as they 
consider the evils that have accrued to the Society of the Asylum Chapel, 
and the distress and damage the Trustees and others have sustained by 
the very ungentlemanlike and unchristian conduct of Mr West, while in 
Saint John, to be irreparable. 

As it is stated in said intimation, that you, sir, have "taken up the sub- 
ject," the Trustees take the liberty of herein stating a number of fads^ 
which, if you please, you may transmit to the Rev. G. M. West, or to any 
of his friends, whomsoever or wheresoever they mav be. 

Tlie Trustees of the Asylum Chapel in Saint John, shortly after the 
erection of that edifice, had the misfortune to be obhged to dismiss tlieir 
then Pastor, and about that time hearing of Mr West, (whom some of the 
Trustees knew in Ireland, when he was in connection with the Primitive 
Methodist Conference in Dublin,) being in Quebec, entered into a corres- 
pondence with him relative to his coming to Saint John — and having assu- 
rance from his answer to their letter, that be still remained a Preacher of 
that connection, he was invited, and artnallv came; and became the Pastor 
of the \sylnm Chapel in '^ainl John, as a Preacher of the above named 
connection and Conference» 



54 

Prior to Mr West's arrival in Saint John, he wrote from Quebec as foh 
lows: "That such was his engagements in Quebec — the blooming prospect 
of a most blessed work — the large and respectable congregation which at- 
tend in my beautiful house ; that it is a very great risk to leave them." And 
after his arrival in Saint John, he frequently repeated that he was makino- 
very great sacrifices by coming here — how greatly the Lord was blessirg 
his labors in Quebec, &c. &:c. When, at the same time, (the Trustees did 
not then know it) he was at high variance with his hearers in Quebec ; and 
told them in his last sermon, they were "vermin and snakes in the grass^ 
and that there was not a gentleman amongst them!!" 

Prior to IVIr West's arrival in Saint John, the Trustees (although the 
chapel was built) had not yet taken the deed for the land on which the 
chapel was erected. After taking legal advice from Robert Parker, Esq. it 
was proposed that the land should be conveyed from the original owners to 
someone individual, and he immediately to convey the same to the Trus- 
tees, for the purpose first intended in the erection of the chapel. Mr 
West being an unmarried man, it was thought best to take out the title to 
the land in his name, to which the parties all agreed, upon bis promise to 
re-convey it to the Trustees at the time he took the deed; and no doubt 
could be possible, with either the original owner or the Trustees, but that 
Mr West would unhesitatingly make over the land the moment he became 
the possessor. But the Trustees never could prevail, although various 
means were resorted to for the purpose, with Mr V- est, to fulfil his pro^ 
mise; but he held, and still does hold, his title to the laud, as his individual 
property. 

To ascertain the above fact, Mr West's friends need only to ask him foE 
a sight of the deed, and what value he gave for the land ? 

Bad as this must appear when known — would to God this was all — but 
it must be further stated, that, prior to Mr West's arrival in Saint John, 
the Trustees incurred a large debt for materials and worktnanship, in 
finishing as far as th^y could the inside of the chapel, and engaged to make 
payment for the same as soon as the pews were sold, and upon that sale 
alone depended the fulfilment of their engagement. The pews were sold, 
shortly after Mr West's arrival, and the proceeds were sufficient to satisfy 
the claimants; but Mr West, without consulting the Trristess, went per- 
sonally and demanded and received the payment for the pews in cash and 
promissory notes, in favor of himself; whereby he became the sole proprie- 
tor of the money, and refused to comply with the engagements made by 
the Trustees, for the materials and workmanship aforesaid ; wherebj- the 
carpenters, and those persons who supplied the materials, were deprived 
of tJieir just demands against the chapel, and both they and the Trustees 
involved in very great difficulties and vexatious law suits. If it be asked 
what Mr West did with the money? we answer, that a part (say £40) was 
put into the hand of an individual, for what purpose is not known, and the 
remainder expended in a contract made by Mr West, without the know- 
ledge of the Trustees, with one of his impartial committee^ for which Mr 
West took no security. The w^ork is not one half performed, the money 
all paid, and the impartial contractor with Mr West for the work has eloped 
from the city! Further; — shortly afier Mr West had secured the title to 
the laii(i, by kfccping it in his own name, the following singular fact took 



place, of which (thoui^h not more extraordinary than most other facts^ere- 
in s;-)ecilievil) the Trustees beg the consideration of ,Ar West's friends and 
ad'ierents: — 

At a public meeting in the Asylum Chapel, convened for the purpose of 
diviue worship on a weeic evening, a very crowded audience present, Mv 
West, without giving any previous intimation to any person, after the ser- 
vice, and while the wnole congregation were present, held out fro;p tlic 
pulpit a paper, which he said he had hardly read over himseJI, purporting 
to be a trust deed for the chapel; and then without any explanation of 
the contents of the deed, and only after one reading, to an audience ot 
expecting any thing of the kind, put it to vote to the congregation, whe- 
ther that should be the trust deed for the chapel, and dema;!ded their as- 
sent by their saying yea!! .One of the Trustees instantly objected to this 
proceeding, and after some few words, stayed the matter for the then pre- 
sent. This novel and very extraordinary attempt of Mr West to impose an 
unknown paper as a trust deed upon the Trustees, gave very great of- 
fence, not only to the Trustees themselves, but to every intelligent hearer 
in the Asylum Chape;, maviv of whom never came there again, while Mr 
West remained in Saint John. 

We now come to state the trust deed as it actually is, and was obtained . 
Af'er Mr West got the title to the land, as he now has it, he went with one 
of the Trustees to the office of W, B. Kinnear, F]sq. Barrister at Law, to 
have a proper trust deed drawn; and the condition of the deed were ver- 
ba! Iv stated, as they were agreed to by Mr West and the Trustees. Mr 
Kinnear said the conditions had better be put in writing, to prevent mis- 
takes, which was agreed to; but it was found after the lapse of some time, 
thit Mr -Vest lid not return to Mr Kinnear's office, but obtained a deed 
suited to his own wish, got it copied by a public writer in Saint John, and 
th.^n took it to the several homes of the Trustees for their signatures^ 
W icn the deed was presented to Thomas Baldwin, one of the Trustees, 
he toll Vlr West he did not approve of it, as it made no provision for a 
preacher, should one come as expected; and'then said — "Mr West, are you 
now a preacher of the Primitive Methodist Conference?" Mr West said, 
"T am; and as soon as a preacher, duly accredited, comes out from the 
Conference, I w'U vacate the pulpit to him, and deliver up the deed to him 
for the sole purpose and use of that Conference; and, if you doubt my 
word, 1 will 2;ive it to you from under my hand." Mr Baldwin then signed 
til-: deed. VVhen the deed was prrsenled to Stephen Humbert, another 
Trustee, he was engaged in ure:cnt business, which required his immediate 
presence, and consequently had not time to read the deed. The witnesses 
who saw Mr Baldwin sign it, said he had read it, and was satisfied; and 
3. Humbert (knowing Mr Baldwin to he a correct render) did, upon that 
testimony, sign the deed, without readina: it, and it was shortly after found 
that the deed made no conveyance of the land and chapel whatever. 

In a subsequent meeting, Mr We^i wa- charged with the fraudulent 
manner in which he had imposed this (as respects the title to t])e land and 
Chapel) nu-j^atory trust deed upon them. Mr West, after some altercation, 
said, he had the opinion of some legal character, who told him the deed 
was sUiiljcient; but if the Trustees -Tere not satisfied, he would execute 
another that should be satisfactory to all parties. fNo. 1.] A deed was 



56 

accordingly made out, comprising nothing more tlian a revocation of the 
present trust deed, and a proper trust of the premises for the Primitive 
Wesleyan Methodist Conference in Ireland. On presenting this deed, Mr 
West said he would cut off his right hand before he would sign it; but if 
the Trustees would get a legal character to prepare a proper trust deed, 
he would sign it. Application was immediately made to W. B. Kinnear,, 
Esq. who was well acquainted with the premises, who prepared a deed; 
and when the Trustees presented the same to Mr West, he would not atijx 
his name to it; [No. 2.] Copies of these deeds are affixed; No. 1. and 
No. 2. 

After many promises made and broken by Mr West, and much negotia- 
iion, both verbal and scroll, Mr West at last consented to leave it to two 
professional gentlemen, to prepare a proper trust deed for the Asylum 
Chapel. Mr West named Robert Parker, Esquire, Solicitor General, and 
the Trustees named William B. Kinnear, Esquire, Barrister at Law, and 
those two gentlemen obligingly consented to the task. Mr Parker, after 
consultation v.riih-Mr Kinnear, undertook to frame the deed. Some time 
however elapsed before it w^as prepared, — meanwhile, Mr West alone wait- 
ed upon Mr Parker, and had so much the ascendancy as to prevail upon him 
to draw a deed '•''suited to his own zvishes and intentions.''^ When Mr West 
got the deed, Mr Parker told him that "Jl/r Kinnear had not seen it.''' a!;d 
that "Ac should show it to him,^^ before he presented it to his Trustees, an<! 
sent Mr Kinnear a note apprising him of the business as it then stood and 
was in Mr West's hands. Mr West how^ever thought proper to dispense 
^rith the injunction of his own honorable arbitrator; awd without showing 
the deed to Mr Kinnear, called a meeting of the Trustees, with whom, on 
this occasion, he embodied his Impartial Committee., composed of six or eight' 
men of no authority in the affairs of the Asylum Chapel whatever. One 
of the Trustees not having heard from Mr Kinnear, thought proper to call 
upon him for information, prior to the Trustee meeting. Mr Kinnear said 
to him, "I have not seen the deed, and you must not sign it until I see it.— -I 
have received a note from Mr Parkeron the subject, as follows-," and be then 
read it. Mr Humbert, the Trustee above alluded to, then requested to 
?iave the !)otc, which he obtained, and then took it to the meeting which 
vvas wailing for him. Upon entering the room, the Secretary of Mr West's 
hnpartiai Committee enrolled his name, and Mr West introduced the busii. 
iicss of the meeting by saying he had "obtained the deed from the Law- 
yer-s," and now proposed to have it agreed to, as it lay on the table. To 
this Mv Humbert answered, he had no idea of agreeing to a paper of the 
contents of which he was ignorant, saying he had had enough of that; allu- 
ding to his signing the trust deed without iirst reading it: but said, how- 
ever, if the deed now proposed, was the one to be prepared by the two 
gentlemen, mutually chosen for that purpose, he would then sign it, as they 
were acting in the place and stead of Mr West and tlie Trustees. Mr West 
then waived any further conversation on that matter, and requested to 
know whether the meeting would agree to let the present trust deed rer' 
main valid. This was also objected to, as being the very thing that oc- 
casioned their dijference. Mr Humbert then requested to know whether 
the present v/as a Trustee meeting, alledeing the rule, that no persons 
■'hould be present but the Trustees at their meeting. If this was a Trustee 



Jlieetlng, those gentlemen, Mr West's impartial comr^iffee,, haci no ^n'sinfe^ 
there; but if it wa.> utowu meetii .', he daii no o:)jectiun to ttieir being pre/ 
sent. But to cut the business short, 'le siifl he had a paper in possestiioa 
which he woUld read, and it w^s ^s lollows:— 

"In re, ) "Pear Sir: — In consequence of some alteration in the Dec* 

'-'Asyliitn Chapel. > laration of Trust, it was not completed till about four o'clock 
— 3 to day, when Mr West got it from me, I told liim you had not 



aeen it, and that he should show it to you, before he read it to his Congregation. I 
mention this, lest you should suppose I ^-ave him to understand it was seen and approved 
by yon. — 1 have of course made it to suit his wishes and intentions, and you must 
examine it with that idea. Yours truly, 

(Signed) ROBERT PARKER. 

Tuesday evening." 

The following note was also sent to the Trustees on this occasion:-— 

"I hereby certify that I hg,ve not consented to, or sanctioned, any Trust Deed or Dec- 
Saration of Trust whatever, made by Mr George Montgomery West, respecting the 
Asylum Chapel; but, on the contrary, have expressly infijrmed him by writing, that 
nothing could be concluded upon, even by himself, till Mr Parker's return from FredC' 
■jncton. 

(Signed) WILLIAM B. KINNEAR." 

Mr Kinnear's note was not introduced at the meeting; but Mr Parker's 
note to Mr Kinnear, being read at the Trustee meeting, as above stated, 
developed at once Mr West's nefarious proceeding, in thus attempting to 
impose a trust deed, as the production of the iwo gentlemen mutually cho- 
sen to prepare it, when he knew that one of them had not even seen it, 
and that he himself had purposely kept it from him, although enjoined by 
his own honorable arbitrator, to show it to him. Such open, base and 
unprincipled conduct on the part of Mr West, after all that had preceded 
on the subject of a trust deed for the Chapel, convinced the Trustees that 
no dependence, whatever, could be placed on Mr West's promises, they re- 
solved upon the spot to have nothing more to do with Mi West, and they 
immediately retired, leaving Mr West and his impartial committee, to cogi- 
tate upon the proceedings of this meeting. 

The Trustees set out at the commencement of writing this statement, im^ 
tentionally to avoid all scurrility, and also any impropex or unmeaning 
ferms; and therefore, upon review of the prorecdidgs of Mr West and his 
impartial committee, in the above mentioned Trustee meeting, adjudge ihe 
terms used above of "open, base and unprincipled," not only as applicablcj 
but warranted, when attached to the history of a transaction, so inconsissi 
!cnt and foreign to the profession of i-jther honor or Christianity, 

The Trustees immediately, upon retiring from the Trustee meeting, rej? 
Solved to appeal to a court )f Equity, and have retained two professional 
gentlemen to file a bill in the court of Chancery, in New Brunswick; but 
lihe same has not been farther proceeded in from the • o , that since Mi: 
West hys obtained ordination in the Church, he migl-t he prevailed upon to 
restore to the Trustees their original rig't; and the Trustees have reason 
to believe that4t was for that purpose, some reverend gentlemen have m-. 
^erfered on their behalf. 

As tonchinor Air We^t';? impartial committee. wliQm thn Trasteeg have 

H ■ ' ■■ '^•- 



ii> notice so often, they have to say that Mr W'est, bectiiling very uHeasy (at# 
thej have reason to believe) hi consequence of the many complaints mode 
by them against his singular and very extraordinary conduct as a Metho- 
dist Preacher, devised the plan of appointing what he termed an impartial 
committee, and proposed the same at a full Trustee meeting, who first object*- 
ed to the term, and secondly to the tiling itself. Upon Mr West putting the' 
question, the whole meeting objected ; when Mr West said, "'Is there not one 
yea among you?" and he was answered, "Nay:" yet Mr West did appoifit 
such committee, most of whom were neither members of the Societ},pewf 
holders, or in any connection whatever with the Society of the Asyluna 
Chapel. The Trustees never acknowledged them; and yet the Rev. 
George Montgomery West told the congregation from the pulpit of the 
Asylum Chapel, and the Trustees at the same time, — "That the votes at 
the Trustee meeting were unanimous in favor of the appointment of an 
impartial committee.'''' 

That the persons composing this Committee, were such as Mr West- 
could and riid make tools of to further his wicked .purposes, the Trustees 
have no doubt. Why did Mr West bring them to the Trustee meeting, ' 
when the spurious deed was presented? but for the purpose of securing- 
a majority of votes in favor of his base attempt upon the Trustees; and 
which probably would have succeeded, but for the timely precaution which 
ail Mr West's fornnier proceedings had rendered necessary, upon this occa- 
sion, and by which precaution alone, (Mr F^s. note,) Mr West's whole 
scheme was annihilated. 

At the time Mr West made the strange assertion (and very strange it 
was indeed, being to' use soft words, the farthest possible from truth) allu- 
ded to above, he also uttered a number of falsehoods, which the Trustees 
were prepared to detect at any time. One of them, immediately at the 
<:onclusion of the service, arose and made the attempt: but Mr West from 
the pulpit would not allow it; and in order to avoid tumult, the Trustee 
desisted. But shortly after, Mr West called the pewholders together in 
the Chapel, to regulate some secular matters: and when that business was 
concluded, the Trustees came forward and requested a hearing, in order, 
to vindicate themselves from the aspersions uttered in Mr West's sermon 
against them, when Mr West would not consent; but the Trustees insisted, 
and Mr West prepared to retire: and although loudly called upon to "stop 
and hear the truth," he left the chapel, as was observed at the time, "in a 
most dastardly manner.'' 

More might be said of the differences between Mr West and the Trus^ 
tees of the Asylum Chapel in Saint John ; but if Mr West's friends in Lon- 
don or elsewhere, can believe tli€ Trustees are sincere in the statementg 
here made, they will easily account for the reasons why the Trustees dis- 
claim against any "arbitration," negotiation or correspondence with Mr 
West. The Trustees are satisfied that they can wrest the title of the land 
and chapel, which he most unrighteously detains from them, in equity, in 
New Brunswick. They will only add her^, that Mr West, by his singular- 
ly bad conduct (as must be fairly inferred froni the above facts wherever 
they can be believed) in Saint Johnyhas been the instrument of destroying 
the fair prospect of the Asylum Chapel; of depriving its creditors of their' 
just demands; of wasting the money he ynjustly detained from the Tr^js-) 



i*9 

^4ds; of involving them in sore and vexatious difficulties; and, in fine, (it 
.anui filiating the most blooming and promising Sunda) School in the Pro* 
Viuce of New Brunswick. 

I'he Trustees are aware that Mr West has representations and papers^ 
which are calculated to show much in his favor; which are, nevertheless, 
false and deceptive. The Trustees allude to such as they know, viz: the 
view of the Asylum Chapel in Saint John, obtained by Mr West from his 
impartial Secretary, which is false and deceptive to the last degree, and is 
jknown to be so, both by Mr West and his Secretary, who drew ii; and Uie 
exhibiting that as a proper view of the Asylum, is an imposition upon the 
©redulous, and beneath the dignity of either a man or a christian. Mr 
West, it is believed, obtained some credentials from his own impartial com- 
mittee^ given to him in the early moment of their creation; and an address, 
(Mr West's own production, being merely an abridgement of the extraor- 
ainary sermon he preached against the Trustees, as mentioned above,) 
which he managed to have handed to him in the pulpit by J. P. Marter, 
Esq., and read it to his hearers, and afterwards sent it to the press for 
publication. Mr J. P. Marter very soon repented having taken such a 
conspicuous part in the proceeding; and although those papers may have 
^ifluence in a far country, the transactions they narrate were considered 
in Saint John as a tit subject for ridicule by every well informed inhabitant. 
Mr West, however, succeeded better with his impartial committee than witk 
a number of the friends of the Asylum, upon whom he made his first essay 
for cash. Elevated, no doubt, by the dignified appellation of impartial, 
committee, they generously indorsed Mr George Montgomery West's note 

for £ , for which cash was obtained at the Bank of New Brunswick; 

but after several renewals of the note, and not receiving any remittance, 

their last note for renewal was dishonored, and it fell upon , 

of the impartial committee, to pay the whole amount, the remaining indor- 
sers being devoid of funds. The lapse of a few^ years, has produced the 
conclusion in Saint John, that the survivors of Mr West's impartial com' 
mittee would relinquish their claim to the title granted them by George 
Montgomery West solus, and submit to a reimbursement of their money, as 
they are 7iow convinced as to the craft by w hich "they have been deprived 
pf their money." 

The Trustees herewith forward copies of the documents which they 
had from Mr West and his Secretary, of which they expect Mr West has 
also copies to show^ in his favor. The first No. 3, signed *'R. C. Mineite, 
Secretary to Committee," is a most impertinent, obtruding and unautho- 
rized paper. The Trustees aslc, whence was the authority derived, from 
which such committee received their appointment? Was it in Mr West? 
Where did Mr West obtain his power to appoint a committee to supersede, 
or interfere in any manner whatever, with the regularly appointed and 
duly recorded Trustees of the Asylum Chapel? If the men chosen by Mr 
West were impartial and considerate men, would they not first havt in- 
quired what right might Mr West himself grant them to interfere with 
the affairs of a church, of which they were neither members nor pew- 
holders; and with what grace they, as a body, could, however respectluJly, 
request the proper Steward of the Chapel, and Secretary to the Trustees, 
■•■'tbrthwith to account io them for h\s engagements^ eo as to render it unne*. 



6l 

cessRTv (for ihem it is presumed) to have recourse to any other mode <3f 
proceeding?" The Trustees assUre Mr West's inends, that the only im- 
pression this paper made ujjon them^ was a commiserating sense of the 
weakness of Mr West's selection of impartial men, who could suppose them- 
seiv s possessed of autnoritj, merely upon Mr West's unwarrantable no- 
snj nation. 

The fact is, however, known to the Trustees here, and may he relied 
iu])on by West's frieiids elsewhere, that Mr West, after being detected in 
so many nefarious proceedings, and becoming very uneasy in his station as 
pastor of the Asylum; and having nothing better to expect than his expul 
sion, for having falsely imposed himself upon the society as a preacher of 
the Primitive VVesieyan Methodists, in connection with the Conference in 
Irektr.'d, when he knew he was not Such, did select from the veriest enemies 
of the Asylum, (knowing them to be such,) some o( his impartial commit 
fe^, viz: Israel Armstrong, John M'Cluer, and Thomas Smi.h; three men 
wiiu h^id received a bond of indemnification from the Trustees, upon their 
promise to desist from any of the concerns of the chapel, and yet after- 
wards became sothe of Mr West's impartial committee,, to call the Trustees 
to account to them for their proceedings, and even to surrender to Mr 
West the original trust deed. — I'he Trustees are not in possession of a 
name for such proceedings: they can oid} infer from such occurrence, a 
deeper view than they formerly possessed of hiiman depravity! 

The concluding paragraph of the paper now under coiisideration, fur- 
nishes further evidence, if that were necessary, of Mr West-having aareed 
to the preparing of a trust deed as herein before stated, and from which 
agreement Mr West so ******** escaped.. Tlie Trustees here quote the 
concluding lines ol said paper: "So that Mr West gives notice a^am, that 
the»e is no delay on his part to have any legal or equitable arrangement 
made, relative to the Asylum Chapel or premises." Very fair indeed. 
Now let Mr West's friends compare this with his doings; in order to do 
which they have only to refer to the account herein stated, of the manner 
in which he obtained the deed Irom Mr Parker (see his note:) how he (Mr 
West) kept it back tVom Mr Kiimear^ although enjoined by his own lawye!" 
to show it to him. (See said note.) How he attemj^ted to foist the deed 
"upo:. the fs ustees: first, by saying he had got the deed from the lawyer-^^ 
when he knew Mr Kinnearhad not seen it; and secondly, by obtruding his 
impartial committee into the Trustees' room, (an admittance never before 
allowed) in order to secure a majority of votes in favor of the spurious 
deed. The manner in which he was detected, viz: by the reading of Mr 
Parker's note to Mr Kinnear, on the subject of the deed. The Trustees say, 
compare all this with Mr West's plausible "readiness" to "legal and equi- 
table arrangements;" and then ask, where is readiness? sincerity? common 
honest) ? Where the man? Where the Christian? Is it in Mr West? Is 
it in his impartial committee? How could they stand by and see their mas- 
ter and head sodetectrd in open day, and be silent? 

The Trustees, disgusted with the recapitulation of these facts and cir- 
cumstances, which has given them so much previous distress, forbear to 
multipn. — They trust they have not exaggerated. If Mr West's friends 
thi k he is persecuted by such staicri^cntsas are herein made, let then; not 
usten to the silly proposal of an arbitration in London, but imitate tb.e xyise 



'6n 

c<>n(^insion of the Dublin Cfonference in their late troubles with Mr Wej?t, 
and send him to fiis former fVicn Is in Quebec and Sa tit Jonn, to bring a 
character, saitablc to the sustaining an office in ihe Church of England; 
When such lieavy complaints have originated, and still do remain against 

The next and last paper, is a note signed "John M'Cluer," one of the 
imonrtml committee; but the Trustees have no doubt it is the production of 
Mr West, as he was always extremely cautious as to signing his own namej 
•f which the fallowing is a copy: 

"Mr Wt;st begs to inform the Trustees of the A.sylutn Chapel, that it is his intention 
to depart for iCuropa, wir.h ,is little delay as possible, and will of course feel it neces- 
sary to lay before the Conference a stateinent of the accounts of tlie Asylum Chapel; 
and as it is not his intention to ln.\w any idvantage of what has been said or done, 
further than truth and self dcte.)C(' may renler absolatiiy nece8>.ry, he gives this 
notice to all concerned, tliat they may e nbrace the present opport.mity of adjusting' 
thair accounts, as much to their own advantage as piQssible, and of retaining copies af 
-the same for their satis^liction; provided t le same be attended without further delay* 

" rho said accounts w'W be at t!ie house of Mr John M'v^luer. 
^iiU lohn, October 19. ?8i8." 

The Trustees being whoHv inapprehensive of Mr West^s meaning, so 
far as it respecie.l the a( coauts aa;aiiist I'le Asylum Chapel, and totally 
regardless of any implicated consequences liinted at in this paper, and 
having no chapel concerns witii John M'Cluer whatevtr, wholly disregard- 
ed this cornrnu iiration. But thev cartuot forbear to remark upon the de- 
ceptive powers of the Rev. (xoorge Mont :;omery West, comprised in the 
mauner in which he tells them, that he "-will of course feel it necessary to 
lay before ihe Conference a statement of the accounts of the Asylum 
Chapel.^ This the Trustees consider as a very complete deceptive rioiible 
entendre: first, in thereby attempting to awe the Trustees to a compliance 
with the contents of this note; and secondly, to deceive his very impartial 
6om?ni7^ce themselves into a belief (which they certainly did then possess,) 
•that Mr West would la) the accounts and the deed also before the Confe- 
rence; but of which belief they have been since fully divested* Mr West 
and the Trustees knew well, at the time of writing the above note, that 
neither he nor they were in any connection with, or amenable to, the Con- 
ference; and that tiie Conference, having struck Mr West's name from 
their minutes, would exercise no kind of control over him, or allow him to 
present any a<>count of him>elf, or transactions, to them, as was fully exem- 
plified on his return from St John to Dublin. The sole effect of this pa- 
per (and very probably the design too) was to deceive the impartial com- 
mittee: it could have no other effect; it did effect th-ft; as the survivors of 
the impartial committee nov fearlessly say they would not have espoused 
Mr West's cause, but for their "xpef tation t^iat h^ would most certainly 
kave transferred the title of the land and chapel to the Irish Conference, 



(NO. 2.) 

Bxtract from the Minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees of Wi.^ 
Theological Sem,inary of 'Ohio. 

Gambier, September 10, 1830. 

Upon application h'y the Rev. G. M. West, for permission to make acorn* 
munication to the Board; on motion, he was admitted. 

Mr West, accordingly, laid before the Board a fciaim upon them for 
traveling expenses, consisting of the sums of £33 sterling and f 109,22* 
•which was referred to the Chairman for settlement. 

He then presented a letter, (a copy of which is on file,) addressed to him 
by the committee of the Trustees of the Milnor Professorship fund in New 
York, inquiring into the condition of said Professorship, and also the Mil- 
nor Scholarship, This communication was referred to a committee corfe 
slating of Judge Bailhache, and Rev. Messrs. Bausman and Aydelott. 

On motion, Messrs. Barber and Wells were appointed a committee it 
examine the cash accounts of the President. 

Adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock next morning. 

WILLIAM SPARROW, Secretary, 

Gambier, September 11, 1830. 
The committee fo whom was reiferred a certain communication from the^ 

Rev. G. M. West, submitted the following report; which was agreed to: 

The committee, to whom was referred the communication from the com- 
STiittee of the Milnor Professorship fund to the Rev. G. M. West, respect- 
fully beg leave to report: 

That, in pursuance of the duty assigned to them, they have carefully ex- 
amined the communication in question, together with all the documents 
referred to therein, of the existence of which they have any knowledge; 
and, deeming it their duty to afford to the committee aforesaid, all the ini 
formation they possess on the dijfferent subjects of their inquiry, they beg 
leave to recommend, that correct copies of the following documents, to be 
taken under the direction of the Bishop at as early a day as may be pracj 
ticable,be forwarded to said committee, viz: 

1st. The report of the select committee appointed to take into consider- 
ation so much of the Address of the Bishop to the Convention which sat at 
Cbillicothe, in June, 1824, as relates to the establishment of a Theological 
Seminary in this Diocese; the Constitution adopted at the same time, in 
conformity thereto; and, the amendments to the 5th and lOtharticlesof said 
Constitution, agreed to by the Convention in 1826. 

2d. The act of Incorporation, passed December 24, 1824; and the act 
supplementary thereto, passed January ^4, 18C6. 

3d. The minutes of the proceedings of the Board ef Trustees, at their 
first meeting held at Zanesville, June 3d, ' 825. 

The request of the committee of the Milnor Professorship fund, to be 
furnished with copies of "the By-LaWs and regulations of the College and 
Seminary, under the act of Incorporation." cannot be complied with ; no By- 
Laws having been fver adoptGd, and the Board of Trust/es liaving been 
uniformly guided in their proceeclings either by th<? Constitution and act ef 



SncorporatioU, or bysQch resoiution^r a they may have adopted, from fitrl^ 
:to time, whenever it appeared necesoary. 

With regard to so much of the Communication, under consideration, 
as relates to the instrument authorizing the Corporation of St. George's 
Church, or, in case of tlieir inabiUty, other persons therein designated, to 
take charge of the fund constituting the Milnor Professorship, — Your Com- 
mittee are of the opinion, that this instrument should be forthwith signed 
and executed agreeably to the draft forwarded to the Bishop, by Mr Jere- 
miah H. Taylor, and transmitted to the persons authorized to take charge 
of and manage the same; it being understood, that the latter shall, so soon 
as may be convenient, make out a statement of all the moneys and effects, 
which constitute said fund, and transmit the same to this Board, with ar, 
agreement to use and manage the same, according to their best skill and 
judgment, and to account for and pay over the proceeds thereof, in confor- 
mity with the covenant between the Right Rev. P. Chase and the Vesrrj 
of St. George's Church, agreed to by this Board, on the 8th of October, 
3829. 

On the subject of the power or authority, under which the Bishop has 
received donations, or acted as the agent of this Institution; your Commit- 
tee deem it proper to tate, that the Bishop originally proceeded to Eng- 
land, for the purpose of soliciting pecuniary aid for the support of th€ 
Church in this Diocese, by virtue of a resolution of the Missionary Society. 
passed on the 6th of Tune, 1 823. That it was the success which attended 
this mission, which led to the establishment of the Theological Seminar} 
and Kenyon College. That by virtue of the resolution aforesaid, and 
of his otiicial character as President of the Institution, the Bishop has, from 
time to time, continued to solicit donations and receive subscriptions foi 
the above purpose. That a faithful report of all his proceedings, in rela- 
tion to this subject, and correct statements of the funds by him collected oi 
received, have been annually submitted to the Board of Trustees, whc 
have, on every suitable occasion, recorded their entire approbation of his 
conduct, and tlieir unwavering confidence in his official integrity; and thai 
the sum of one thousand dollars, subscribed by the Bishop to the Milisoi 
Professorship, has been paid over by him; and the sum of one thousand 
dollars for the Milnor Scholarship, received by the Bishop, has been faith- 
fully accounted for and pla'^ed to his debit. — In order, however, further tc 
satisfy the reasonable demands of the subscribers to the Milnor Professor- 
ship fund, and of the Education Society of St. George's flhurch, on th€ 
subject of the aboye named sums, your committee respectfully recommend 
the adoption of the following resolutions, viz: 

Rrsolved, That the receipt of the sum of one thousand dollars, subscrr, 
bed to the Milnor Professorship, by the Right Rev. P. Chase, is hereby ac 
knowledged; and thatthis Board, for themselves and their successors, here- 
by pledge themselves to pay the interest thereon at the rate of six pei 
centum per annum, semi-annually, forever, to the Corporation of Snini 
George's Church, or such other persons as may be lawfully authorized tc 
receive the same, to be applied agreeably to the original intention o( the 
subscribers to the Milnor Professorship fund. 

Resolvrfh Thai thp receipt of the sum of one thousand dollars, from thf 
Missionary aud Education Society ef St. George's Church, for th^ purport 



of const] luting a Schblar'^hip in lie. yon College, nncHer the name of tht 
Milnor Scholars ip, is nerei^y ackDowiedg^d; and ;hat tstis r. r-T-j, tor 
themselves and their successors, in perpetuiiy, hereby coven'^it. premise 
and agree to admit as a beneficiary, and tree of any expense Jor tuition, 
board, washing and lodging, one Scholar, to be, from time to time, selected 
for the purpose, by the said Missionary and Education Society, 

Resolved^ further, That a copy of this resolution, properly autheUticated^j 
be transmitted to the committee of the Milnor Professorship fund, for the 
information of the subscribers to said fund, and of the Missionary and Edu» 
pation Society of St. George's Church. 
Respectfully submitted, 

JOHN batlhachf:, ) 

JOHN P. BAUSMAN, V Committee. 
B. P. AYDELOTT, ) 

The following resolutions were severally agreed to 5 viz: 

Whereas, the subscription of ten thousand dollars, to constitute a Pren 
fessorship of Divinity in the Theological Seminary, under the nameof thQ 
Milnor Professorship, has been tilled up, and is now complete: Therefore — ■ 

Resolved, That the Milnor Professor of the The ogical Seminary be, 
and hereby is, established, in conformity with the covenant entered into 
between the Right Rev. P. Chase, and the Vestry of St. Geqrge's Church, 
N'^w York, as assented to by this Board of Trustees at their |ast meeting^ in 
Octoner, 1J!29. 

Whereas, the Missionary and Education Society of St. George's Church, 
New York, have subscribed for, and paid over, to the President of th's In- 
stitution, the sum of one thousand dollars, for the pur|)Ose of constituting a 
Scholarship in Kenyon College, under the name of the Milnor Scholarship, 
which said sum has been received and accounted for: TSiere/brc — 

Resolved, That the Milnor Scholarship of Kenyon College be, and hereby 
is, established, in conformity with the intention of the Missionary a'ld Edu- 
cation Society of St. George's Church, New York; and that sai*d So< '-^fy 
shall have the right of maintaining one student in Ke *yon Coiiege, in |?er'' 
petuity, free of f«v:pense of tuition, board, washing and loddnj?, nnde'- the 
rules and regulations adopted for the admission of the stud<^nts genevaiJy.. 

The instrument, constituting Jeremiah H Taylor, of New York, tbeip 
attorney, to transact business between th^^m and the Rector, C'urch War-; 
dens and Vestrymen of St. Georj^e's Church, in that Ci^y, was s'gned by 
i'he Trustees of the Institution nresent, and o'dere'i to be irrwrrrded. ,^ 

The President laid beforp thp Board, ronsietingf of nil th» members pre*; 
sent, the following commu'^ica+ion, resig- ing; his ao-ency un ;er the Board^,' 
and the management of the tisral concerns of the Institution!. 

^0 the Trustees of the Thpohsical Srminfri/ and Kenyon CJ-ge, now z'n S6£~ = * 
&ion,on this the \.4:th day of September, .^, D, 1B30„ 

Gentlemen : — 

I do hereby resign mv ager^cv an*^! the managcj-nent o' t e tiscal conv 
cerns of the Institution, of which you have the control, and beg leave tr. 
make some statements: — 



65 

1. Let 4t he remembered, that the collections for the Seminary undei;, 
your direction, were nide u:ider tiie repeated assari-ic., ,i i J o;' t.- v^x- 
press conditiou, that lae liistitution to he founded thereby, should bo al- 
ways conducted so as to promote morality aiid relii^ion. This was done in 
the case of ail the contri'tutions, ot which I was the humhie instrument in 
England. Be it remembered, also, that when tiie plan w is more matured, 
and donations began in this country, it was spcciiied that the grousnis on 
w^!ch tlie College is built, to t)»e extent oTall the south section o» 4,').''(0 
acres, should forever rem'iin, in fee, the property of the College ; ,i. e« 
should never be sold or leased, so as to deprive the College authorities of 
the control of every inch of ground within the above specified dimensio-is, 
so as to prevent a tenant from being turned away from (he premises, the 
moment his conduct becomes obnoxious to their censure. I have always 
considered, and do now desire, the Trustees expressly to understand, that 
the thousand dxjllars which I gave last Convention, in a settlement with 
the Trustees, were given by me on the above conditions. So much for 
the past. 

2. At the settlement which is now made under your investigation of 
all accounts between us, and, I trust, to your entire satisfaction, there 
appears due to me r$5,37 1 22, consisting of moneys and property advanced 
in furtherance of tiie Institution, and of my salary for about two years past. 
Now, be it remembered, that two thousand doll jrs of this sum justly my 
due, I wish may be disposed of in the tollowing manner: 

1. One thousand dollars to be laid out, as soon as may be, in the erec- 
tion of a house for the residence of my family, under my direction, on the 
College lands, wherever it shall be by me thought most convenient; the 
materials to be furnished by the College, and charged at reasonable prices. 

2. Oae thi)asa id dollars is given by me as a free donation to the Corpo- 
pation of the College, without any reservation, exr<^pt the conditions above 
specitied, that no part of the sout'i section of 40 JO acres of land on which 
the College stands, be convevel away either by deed or lease; that the 
monopoly of trade and merchandi^f be maintained as a part of the College 
subsistence; and that morality and pure religion be the chief objects in 
view. 

3 I have never yet made a formal doiation of my Library: I mean 
those books originally belonging to me previously to, and exclusive of, any 
donation of books to the Plieological Seminary and Kenyon Colleges. 
These amount to about 1,500 volumes'. I do now hereby give all my Li- 
brary, and every book I have, except a family bible and prayer book, to 
the Corporation of K myon College, f-onditioaed as above; and aiso oft 
the condition that I have the com aand of the Liorary as my study, and 
the use thereof daring my life ti ne. All which donatioMS, I have made, 
and declared in good faith, mnesi ig the conditions, to be liberally a id i\or^. 
nestly interpreted, with power tore-enter and recover, if not performed. 

PHILANDRR CHASE, 
Presiu'ent of Kenyon College^ 

This the 14th day of Sept. 1 830. 

The^ committee op the Bishop'ji communication, reported a^ follows t 



^rhe committee, \o whom was referred the communication this day Wii. 

before the Board of Trustees bj the Right Rev. P. Chase, beg leave to 

Report: — 

That in pursuance of the duty assigned to them, they have given the 
^communication in question all the attentive and respectful consideration 
due to its importance, and submit the following as the result of their deli- 
berations, to the acceptance of the Board : 

The feelings with which this Board have received the resignation by the 
President, of his "agency and the management of the tiscal concerns of 
this Institution," they will not attempt to express. Fully persuaded that 
it is, under God, to his almost unaided exertions, that the Theological 
Seminary and Kenyon College owes its existence; that amidst the most 
discouraging embarrassments, and appalling difficulties, it has been brought 
to its present state of forwardness and utility under his exclusive superin^ 
tendence, and by means obtained almost entirely by himself alone; that he 
has, at one and the same time, acted in the capacity of Bishop of this Dio- 
cese, President of a religious and literary Institution, architect, mechanic 
and farmer, as well as discharged the complex and multifarious duties.of 
general agent, treasurer and superintendent of a great and extensive esta- 
blishment; that, in the performance of his various functions, he has uni- 
formly acted with a single eye to the glory of God, the advancement of 
religion and the prosperity of the Institution committed to his charge; and 
that, in addition to his arduous labors, and those of his family, he has at 
different times presented large sums to the Theological Seminary, and be* 
come in reality its most active and indefatigable friend: notice of his in- 
tended resignation cannot have been received without occasioning sensa- 
tions of regret, too powerful for utterance. This Board are sensible that 
the labors of their revered President, for several years past, have been of 
such a nature, that, if he had not been sustained by the favor of a gracious 
Providence, and influenced by the most philanthropic zeal for the welfare 
of the rising generation, exhausted nature must have sunk under them. 
They beheve, however, that the situation of this Institution is now such, 
that a part of the very arduous duties, which have heretofore devolved 
upon him alone, may be safely entrusted to other hands; and when it is no 
longer necessary that his valuable life should be endangered, or his health 
impaired, through the multiplicity of his cares. 

i3ut they deem it their duty expressly to state, that, reposing the utmost 
confidence in the untiring zeal, and unimpeachable integrity of the Presi- 
dent; and deeming it impossible to supply his place at the present momert 
without endangering the best interests of this Institution, they trust that 
he will consent to retain the general superintendence of its concerns, until 
after the next annual Convention of this Diocese, and the election of a new 
Board of Trustees. They cannot, therefore, forbear to cherish the hopcj" 
that he will withdraw his resignation for the present, and continue to exer- 
cise the important functions heretofore committed to him; in the discharge 
of which, this Board will, at all times, most cheerfully afford him all the 
as-istance in their power, 

The proposition of the Right Rev. P. Chase, to appropriate the sum of 
&r.-: thousand dollars towards the erection ofa house, for the residence of 
his family on the College grounds, in whose possession it shall reuraiii up^ 



&7 

^1 after the expiration of two years from and after his decease, and the de/- 
cease ofMrs Chase, is received as an additional proof of his reg;arcifor, and 
benevolent intentions towards this Institution, and is accepted with reve- 
reoce and gratitude. 

With regard to the "free donation of one thousand dollars," from the 
President of this Institution, which is most thankfully accepted ; this Board 
•would respctfally suggest to the generous donor, the propriety of appropri- 
ating it to the foundation of a Scholarship, to be called "The Bishop Chase 
Scholarship," with the express understanding that the right of presentation 
thereto, shall forever remain in Bishop Chase and his heirs, under the same 
regulations as have been adopted in relation to the "Milnor Scholarship." 
The donation by the President of his valuable Library, with the condi- 
tions annexed, is likewise accepted with gratitude towards the libtral 
donor, whom this Board most devoutly pray, may long be preserved to wit- 
ness the beneficial effects of his most disinterested and benevolent exer- 
tjo-is for the promotion of human happiness and the advancement of rell? 
gion and science. 

Respectfully submitted, 

JOHN BAILHACHE, ) 

JOHN P. BAUSMAN, } Committeg,. 

J. B. THOMAS, S 

•This report was unanimously agreed to; but the President begged leav« 
to retire and consult his family before giving a reply: after a short intee^ 
val he returned, and handed in the following.answer: 

''Bishop Chase, being present at the reading of the report of the Conv 
mittee on his resignation, feels deeply impressed with its sentiments, and 
quite unworthy of its commendations. 

On the subject of his continuing the agency of the Institution and the 
management of its fiscal concerns, he consents, for the reasons urged by 
the committee, to do so for one year, provided, the Board associate with 
him in the matter of conveying lands, the titles of which are all, by record, 
in the name of the Seminary, (if any should be sold,) a trusty person to as- 
sist with his judgment in so weighty a matter." 

Whereupon, the following resolution was offered and adopted: 

Resolved, That in compliance with the wishes of the Bishop, the Rev. 
William Sparrow be associated with him in the sale and conveyance of any 
lands belonging to the Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal, 
Church in the Diocese of Ohio, intended for sale. 

The committee on accounts, made the following report; which wa'S 
agreed to: 

The committee, appointed to examine and audit the accounts of -Bishop 

Chase with the Theological Seminary of the Protestant Episcopal 

Church in the Diocese of Ohio, respectfully beg leave to repart: 

That, in pursuance of the duty assigned to them, they have carefully 

compared the statement of the receipts and expenditures, made on account 

of this Institution, and the various departments connected with it since the 

last meeting of the Board of Trustees, which the Bishop has l.id beior^ 

t:hem, with th? voachers in his possession, and found the samq to agree.. 



68 

The total amount of receipts, from all sources, including the proceeds of 
sevf! hundred poutids sterUng, noticed in our last report, but not included 
in (lie accounts then liquidated, from the 2d day of October, I8i9, to the 
1 1th day of September, 1 -30, is ^:::5,239 64^ 

Tfie total amount of expenditures, including the purchase of merchan- 
dise, provisions, stock, salaries of Professors and Tutor, and pay of tlie 
workmen employed about the Institution, together with the erection of 
buildings, improvements, &C.&C. is, ^23,703 5li 

The amount due the Bishop for his salary, from June, 
8 828, to this day, 1,800 00 

The balance due the Bishop on the 20th day of Octo., 
ber, 1829, as per settlement, • 5,105 25i 

30,6iO 76| 
From which deduct the amount of receipts as above, 25,239 bi^ 



Balance 5,.;7l 22 

From winch balance deduct the amount of donations from 
je Bishop, as per his communication of this day, 2,000 00 



Balance due him, 3,371 22 

liespectlully submitted, 

BEZALEEL WELLS, ) 

JOSIAH BAREKR, { Committee, 

JOHN BAILHACHE. V 



R9 



Since the article extracted trom the '-British Colonist," was printed, off,'! 
havt' received tiie following letter and certificates ( sr'.>ing to its correct- 
ness. 

St. JoHN,.February 4, 1831. 
Right Reverend Si 



I novv transmit to you, by desire of the Bishop of Nova Scotia, a pa- 
per which has hf>en put into my hands by the committee for the manage- 
ment of the Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in tsiiscity. I have, as 
regards myself, never had any personal knowlcdoe of or communication 
with the Reverend Mr W^st; hut I have full reliance upon the veracity of 
the persons who have subscribed the certificates inclosed. 
I am, with great respect, 

Your affectionate brother, 

BENJ. G. GRAY, 

Redor of St. John^ JV*. S, 
Right Rev. Bishop Chase. 

We, wh)se names are hereunto subscribed, do hereby certify and declare 
that the ;» iblication in tii^ Brili'iii Colonist in the city of St. John, and 
Province oi New Brunswick, on September 24th, 1830, headed "The Ap- 
peal," &c and signed by Thonas Baldwin, as Secretary to the Trustees 
of the Asyhim Chapel, was inserted at our request; and that the facts 
therein stated, relative to the Rev. Geor'^je M-^ntgomery West and his pro- 
ceedings in the concerns of said Chapel, while he was in St. dohn, are true. 

STEPHEN HUMBERT, 
ROBERT JAMES. 
Signed for, and in behalf of the committee, this 5th day of February, 
1831. 

THOMAS BALDWIN, Secretary. 

The Undersigned hereby declares himself the author of the several pub« 
locations in the Citv Gazette, published by Alexander McLeo'^, E«q. in the 
eity of St. John, New Brunswick, in the year i 830, entitled "Review of a 
Pamphlet published in London in the year 1 829, hy George Wharton Mar- 
vioit, Esq. B, C. L. .tc." and furt ler declares, that the statements therein 
made, relative to the pr tcecdings of George M. West, while he was in St. 
John, are undeniably true. 

STEPHEN HUMBERT. 

City and county of St. John, and Province of JYezv Brunswick^ JV. S, 
I certify that the above subscriber, Stephen Humbert, is, and for twenty 
six vears has been, well known to me; that he is a highlv respectable man, 
for many years a Justice of the Peace, and at present fills the situation of 
one of the Representatives to the General Assembly from this city and 
count v. 

Given under mv Innd and seal of office, at the city aforesaid, the 6th 
of Febniarv. 1831. 

H.MALCHO^, Mayan,.. 



'70 

i^ At the commencement of the Spring and Summer Term, ahout 
the middle of April, our new Buildings will admit of an ad(3itiomil number" 
of Students. Besides those who are in the Institution, and who have sma-; 
red their places by pacing in advance their year's stipend, ($70 per annum 
for a College student, and $60 do. for (*ne in the Grammar School,) some 
libers m^ be admitted should they apply immediately. 

PHII-ANDER CHASE. 



/TABLE OF CONTENTS ANB CORRECTIONS. 



Page; 

Dr. Milnor's letter to Bishop Chase, 1 

Letter of the Bishop of Nova Scotia to Bishop Chasej 3 

British Colonist Newspaper, how it came to hand, 6 

Rev. G. M. West, how introduced, ib 

The form of words on whicli Mr West founds his pretension^, ib 

Mr W. goes to England, ib 
Returns and lays claim to the spiritual office of a Bishop, and is 

resisted in his pretensions by Bishop Chase, 6 

Reasons for making this resistance public, 8 

Bishop Meade's (of Va.) opinion of Mr West, 9 
Report of the Committee of the Convention on the subject of Mr 

West's pretensions, ib 
Temperance and Sunday School Societies, 10 
Constitution of Kenyon College, 11 
Has provided just and legal ways of settling difficulties, and dis- 
countenances those assumed by Mr West and his adlierents, 12 
Mr West's articles of Inquisition established by i\\Q joint resolution 

of the three nameless gentlemen in New 5f ork, and answered, 1 3 
Mr West's conduct before the Trustees, 17 
Mr West's artful newspaper article of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, contra- 
dicting Mr Marriott's statement, 18 
Mr West denies himself to have been a Methodist Minister, and 

threatens Mr Morse, 19 

The buildings and improvements on College farms, 20 

Saw mill, Grist mill, &c. 21 

Miller's house, ib 

Student's houses, S2 

Hotel and stable, t56 

Carpenter's and Shoemaker's shop, ib 

Dairyman's house and Cow stable, 33 

Stackyard, threshing floor, granary, ox shed and board fehCfi) ib 

Old dining hall, # 

Water for the College hill, 24 

Printing office. College stable, Professor's house, ib 

College kitchen, buildings of hewed logs, ^5 

Of the cabins on the College premises, ib 

Hermitage, Cascu, Kenyon College Grammar School," 26 

College building, ibr 

Rosse Chapel 28 

The question of hiring by contract, or by the mo^th, considered^ ?1 

Cejrtiiicate of the examiniug cvmmittee, ^3 



